Ghana Education Service cautions teachers against leaving their classrooms to demonstrate or engage the media during contact hours, directing staff to use official administrative channels to address concerns.
The (GES) has issued a directive cautioning teachers against leaving their duty posts to demonstrate, picket, or engage the media during official school hours.
The warning, contained in a letter dated March 9, 2026, follows what the Service described as a growing trend of some teachers travelling to the national headquarters in to raise grievances directly with management or to organise unofficial groups to press their demands.
Directive Issued by GES Management
The communication was signed by , Acting Deputy Director-General in charge of Quality and Access at the Ghana Education Service.
According to the Service, teachers who leave their classrooms during contact hours to visit the headquarters or speak to the media will be regarded as absent from duty.
GES emphasised that such actions violate the administrative structure of the Service and the professional standards outlined in the teachers’ Code of Conduct.
Teachers Asked to Follow Administrative Channels
Management reiterated that teachers with grievances must follow established administrative procedures when seeking redress.
Under the guidelines, teachers are expected to first report concerns to their Heads of School. If the issue remains unresolved, it should be escalated to the District Directorate, and subsequently to the Regional Directorate.
The national headquarters of the , the statement explained, primarily engages with Regional Directorates and officially recognised teacher unions rather than individual staff members.
Disciplinary Measures for Non-Compliance
GES warned that any teacher found at the headquarters or appearing in media interviews during school hours could face disciplinary action.
Management further indicated that teachers captured in video or audio recordings speaking to the media during contact hours may also be subject to sanctions under the Service’s disciplinary procedures.
Regional Directors of Education have therefore been instructed to enforce strict compliance with the directive.
Monitoring by School and District Authorities
To ensure adherence to the new directive, District Directors of Education and Heads of School have been tasked with monitoring teacher attendance and reporting cases of absenteeism.
GES also cautioned that school heads and district officials responsible for supervising teachers may be held accountable if staff under their supervision engage in such conduct during working hours.
Management Calls for Dialogue Through Proper Channels
Despite the warning, the Service acknowledged that progress has been made in addressing administrative backlogs and resolving some of the concerns raised by teachers in recent months.
GES management assured staff that their welfare remains a priority and encouraged them to use the appropriate administrative channels to resolve outstanding issues.
Education observers say the directive reflects the Service’s attempt to maintain discipline within the teaching workforce while managing grievances through institutional structures.
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