TTAG ‘cries foul’ over delay in teacher trainees allowance payment

The Teacher Trainees Association of Ghana (TTAG) following a release of GH¢241.9 million for the teacher trainees allowance payment has raised concern over the delay in the stipend payment for the 2022/2023 academic year.

In a statement shared with AcademicWeek, TTAG said for more than five weeks since the government released the GH¢241.9 million, the Controller and Accountant General’s Department has failed to release the funds to Ghana Tertiary Education Commission for the disbursement to trainees.

“TTAG extends its appreciation to the Government of Ghana for the recent release of GH¢241 million for the payment of allowance to teacher trainees across the 46 public Colleges of Education in Ghana for 2022/2023 academic year,” it said.

The Teacher Trainees Association of Ghana (TTAG) however said that the delay in the payment of the allowance is causing untold hardships to teacher trainees, particularly on feeding and purchase of teaching and learning materials.

“The teacher trainees allowance serves as a vital lifeline, enabling trainees to meet their basic needs and alleviate the financial burden of tuition fees. Unfortunately, the prolonged delay in disbursing these allowances has left trainees in a state of distress and uncertainty,” TTAG said.

The Trainees Association of Ghana (TTAG) furthered that “We have been patient on this issue since the start of the academic year in January 2023 (5 months) but we cannot guarantee it if the funds are not released immediately.”

The Association of Trainees concern comes after the Minister for Education, Yaw Osei Adutwum said the government through his outfit has disbursed approximately GH¢241.9 million cedis for the payment of teacher trainees allowance.

This was disclosed in a speech read on behalf of the Education Minister by the Director of Tertiary Education at the Ministry of Education, Professor Yahyra Dzakadzi, at the 14th Graduation of the Saint Monica’s College of Education at Asante Mampong. 

“GH¢32.4 million have been released to cover Books and Research Allowances for eligible Senior members of public Tertiary Education Institutions, including Colleges of Education, for the 2022/2023 academic year,” Prof Yahyra said,

This disbursement of teacher trainees allowance was first hinted at by Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum at the 14th Congregation, held for the first batch of degree holders in the Basic Education Programme by the Sefwi Wiawso College of Education.

In a speech read on his behalf at the Sefwi Wiawso College of Education Congregation, he said teacher trainee allowances for the 2022/2023 academic year will soon hit the accounts of the 49 Colleges of Education nationwide.

“The government, through the Ministry of Education, has approved Two Hundred and Forty-One Million, Nine Hundred and Thirteen Thousand Cedis (241,913,000 Cedis) for the payment of 2022/23 teacher trainee allowances,” the speech said.