The Ghana Education Service has issued a warning to teachers against leaving their duty posts during school hours to engage in protests or to voice grievances at its headquarters.
In a directive released on March 9, 2026, to all Regional Directors of Education, the Service noted a concerning trend where certain teachers, especially newly recruited personnel, gather at the headquarters in Accra, form unrecognized groups, or interact with the media to express their concerns.
The statement indicated that these activities frequently take place during official school hours, with some teachers departing from their classrooms without first addressing their grievances through the proper administrative channels.
The Service underscored that the teaching profession functions within well-defined administrative frameworks and is governed by a code of professional conduct that mandates staff to uphold high standards of professionalism.
It clarified that teachers with concerns must initially present them to their Heads of School before escalating them through the District and Regional Directorates as necessary.
Furthermore, GES pointed out that its national office only engages directly with Regional Directorates and legally recognized teacher unions that are registered under Ghanaian law.
The directive cautioned that any teacher found to be leaving their duty post to visit the headquarters or to give media interviews during school hours would be considered as having been “absent from duty,” in line with the provisions of the Service’s Code of Conduct.
GES stated that the appropriate disciplinary measures outlined in the code would be enforced against staff who breach the directive.
Regional Directors have thus been tasked with overseeing District Directors and Heads of School to ensure strict adherence to the directive.
Additionally, Heads of School and District Directors are required to document and report any instances of teacher absenteeism to management.
The Service has stated that educators recorded on video or audio while interacting with the media or present at the headquarters during official school hours will be held responsible alongside their Heads of School and District Directors.
GES recognized the advancements made in tackling inherited backlogs and enhancing internal processing systems; however, it emphasized that any unresolved staff issues should be handled through the designated administrative channels instead of confrontational methods at the headquarters or via the media.
Management also reassured staff that their well-being is a priority and reiterated its dedication to addressing valid concerns through due process and organized engagement.
