The government has announced plans to construct 50,000 housing units for teachers across the country as part of measures to improve teacher welfare and encourage educators to accept postings to underserved areas.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu said the initiative, dubbed the Teacher Dabre Initiative, is aimed at providing decent accommodation for teachers, particularly those serving in rural communities where housing remains a major challenge.
Speaking at the government’s Accountability Series on Monday, July 20, the Minister said the project would be implemented through a decentralised approach, with the District Assemblies Common Fund playing a key role in coordinating construction at the district and regional levels.
“We intend to construct 50,000 housing units for teachers all across the country. It is led by the District Assemblies Common Fund because we want to decentralise it at the regional and district level,” he stated.
Mr Iddrisu added that the Ministry of Education would provide the necessary support to ensure the successful implementation of the programme, including leveraging pension fund resources from the Ghana Secondary School Pension (GSOP) as collateral support.
He further disclosed that government was nearing completion of arrangements to introduce a 20 per cent allowance for teachers who voluntarily accept postings to rural areas.
“Apart from the 20% allowance for persons who are self-posting into rural areas, we are almost through,” he said.
The proposed housing project and rural posting allowance are part of government’s broader efforts to improve teacher retention, enhance working conditions and make teaching positions in rural communities more attractive.
