The Ghana Education Service (GES) in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region has stated that it requires at least 632 additional teachers to address a critical staffing shortage across schools in the district.

The shortage, according to the District Public Relations Officer, Eric Aboagye, is placing considerable pressure on schools and the limited number of teachers currently available to provide quality education.

Aboagye disclosed this at a ceremony held to celebrate the Headmistress of Mpasatia D/A Basic School, Bridgette Evelyn Prempeh, after she emerged as the second-place winner of Channel One TV’s 2025/2026 Community Legend initiative.

He said the staffing situation was particularly worrying in 34 basic schools across the district, each of which has no more than three teachers, including the headteacher.

“As I’m speaking now, the directorate needs 632 teachers to fill various classrooms in the district. As at now, 34 basic schools have a maximum of three teachers, including the headteacher, and it’s very worrisome,” he said.

Aboagye explained that the district’s staffing challenges had been compounded by the annual departure of teachers, particularly those posted to deprived communities.

He said an average of 150 teachers leave the district every year after completing the required period of service in deprived areas and securing transfers to other locations.

“For the past six years, I think a minimum of 150 teachers leave every year, and it’s just that the district is so big and it has so many deprived areas,” he said.

He noted that teachers who accept postings to deprived communities are eligible to seek release after serving for about three years, making it difficult for the district to retain experienced teachers.

The situation, he said, continues to create gaps in the delivery of education, particularly in schools serving remote communities where access to qualified teachers remains a challenge.

Aboagye’s comments highlight the need for additional teacher recruitment and improved retention measures to ensure that schools in the district have adequate staff to support teaching and learning.

The staffing shortage also raises concerns about the workload of teachers currently serving in the affected schools, many of whom must manage large classes and multiple responsibilities.

The district is therefore expected to require sustained support to address its teacher deficit and improve educational outcomes across its basic schools.