The Minister noted that education remains Ghana’s largest employer and that the Cabinet’s approval was partly in response to teacher groups who have been seeking the Ministry’s attention on the streets of Accra.

“Education remains Ghana’s largest employer. I understand that some strike team teachers are looking for us on the streets of Accra. To respond to that, the Cabinet gave approval for us to recruit some 6,100 more teachers,” Mr Iddrisu said during the presentation of the 2026 education budget in Accra.

The recruitment forms part of broader measures under the 2026 budget, which allocates GH¢39.23 billion to the Ministry of Education for programmes across basic, secondary, and tertiary levels. This represents a 23 per cent increase over the previous year, reflecting the government’s commitment to equitable, inclusive, and high-quality education.

Of the allocation, GH¢33.76 billion will come from the Government of Ghana funds, GH¢3.68 billion from internally generated funds (IGF), and GH¢1.8 billion from development partners.

The Minister also reaffirmed that financing for Free Senior High School (SHS) and Free Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) would now be sourced from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), which has been allocated GH¢9.9 billion, including GH¢4.2 billion earmarked specifically for Free SHS and TVET services.

Mr Iddrisu outlined an ambitious plan to construct 200 kindergarten blocks, 200 primary schools, 200 junior high schools, 400 teacher bungalows, and 400 modern sanitary facilities across the country.

He added that the Ministry would implement the Ghana Secondary Learning Improvement Programme, a two-year, US$180 million World Bank-supported initiative aimed at expanding school infrastructure, completing 30 abandoned E-Block projects, and improving teaching and learning outcomes.

Additionally, plans are underway to upgrade selected senior high schools, establish two new technical universities in Jasikan and Techiman, and initiate processes for two new public universities in the Ahafo and Eastern regions.

Mr Iddrisu reiterated that the government remained committed to human capital development and assured the public that the 2026 Budget was bold, strategic, and forward-looking in addressing pressing needs within the education sector.