Education blogger and curriculum expert Ellis Ferdinand calls on government to place teachers denied upgrading on higher ranks, offering a fair solution to a long-standing issue in GES recruitment and promotions.
Accra, May 9, 2025 — Ghanaian education blogger, curriculum specialist, and researcher, Ellis Ferdinand, has called on the government to revisit the plight of teachers who were denied rightful upgrading by the Ghana Education Service (GES) for years, only to later be asked to write promotion exams.
In a Facebook post published today, Ferdinand described this as a long-standing injustice that needs urgent redress, especially in light of the NDC government’s new directive to upgrade all teachers who applied for upgrading.
“One very tough decision I pray Govt tackles,” Ferdinand wrote, “is to revisit those who were denied upgrading and wasted their efforts for years and ended up writing promotion exams.”
He recounted cases where teachers applied for upgrading as far back as eight years ago, met all requirements, yet were repeatedly denied through no fault of their own. These teachers, he said, lost valuable career progression time waiting for a system that never responded positively.
Ferdinand strongly proposed that such teachers be placed on the next two ranks as compensation for the lost years, even if government decides not to pay arrears. He explained that this would be a “fair renegotiation”, helping restore dignity and morale among affected educators without significantly burdening the state financially.
“Government wouldn’t need to pay back pays,” he noted, “but only place such teachers on the rank to enable them benefit from their new ranks moving forward.”
His statement adds to the growing conversation on equity, transparency, and fairness in teacher professional development and upgrading, calling for more systematic reforms in GES administrative processes.
Profile: Ellis Ferdinand — Ghana’s Leading Independent Voice in Education
Ellis Ferdinand is widely regarded as one of Ghana’s most influential education bloggers and a respected curriculum specialist and education policy analyst. With over a decade of experience in Ghana’s pre-tertiary education sector, Ellis has carved a niche as a strong advocate for teacher welfare, quality curriculum development, and equity in education governance.
He is the founder of EducationGhana.org, a highly-ranked digital education platform that has become a go-to source for education news, analysis, teacher resources, and policy updates. Through this platform, Ellis has consistently amplified the voices of marginalized educators, held institutions accountable, and influenced national conversations on school reforms.
Academically, Ellis Ferdinand holds a Master of Philosophy degree in Curriculum and Pedagogic Studies with additional certifications in teacher education research. His work has been referenced in education reform discussions, parliamentary briefs, and by major unions like GNAT and NAGRAT.
Ferdinand is also a frequent speaker at education summits, and is often consulted by both public and private institutions for guidance on curriculum design, assessment practices, and teacher policy matters.
Beyond his research and advocacy, Ellis is deeply committed to mentoring young educators, running workshops on lesson planning, professional ethics, and digital teaching tools.
He represents a new generation of data-driven, media-savvy education experts who blend scholarship with grassroots advocacy to effect real change.
Discover more from EducationGhana
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
