GNAT, NAGRAT, and CCT have rejected a GES directive requiring teachers to submit personal files for a nationwide Job Evaluation Exercise, describing the move as a delay tactic and urging members not to comply.
Teacher Unions Push Back Against GES Directive
A major disagreement has emerged between the Ghana Education Service (GES) and teacher unions following a directive requiring the submission of staff personal files for a Job Evaluation Exercise linked to the implementation of the new Scheme of Service.
In a joint statement dated June 9, 2026, the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT Ghana) announced their rejection of the directive and called on teachers across the country not to comply.
The unions argued that the request was unnecessary and could further delay efforts to address long-standing concerns relating to teacher grading, placement, and career progression.
What the GES Directive Requested
The controversy stems from a letter issued by GES Headquarters on June 8, 2026, and signed by Deputy Director-General Prof. Smile Dzisi on behalf of the Director-General.
The letter directed all Regional Directors of Education to coordinate the collection and submission of personal files of all staff to the Human Resource Management Division (HRMD) Headquarters.
According to the directive, staff were expected to provide:
- First appointment letters
- Personal record forms
- Certified academic and professional certificates
- Promotion letters
- Other relevant documents relating to career progression and status within the service
GES explained that the exercise formed part of efforts to implement the new Scheme of Service in collaboration with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and the Public Services Commission (PSC).
Unions Demand Immediate Withdrawal
The three unions strongly opposed the directive, describing it as a move that could frustrate the ongoing process aimed at resolving issues affecting teachers nationwide.
The statement was jointly signed by:
- Thomas T. Musah, General Secretary of GNAT
- Jacob Anaaba, President of NAGRAT
- King Ali Awudu, President of CCT Ghana
The unions outlined three key positions.
- Rejection of the Directive
The unions stated that they reject the GES letter and all directives contained in it. They consequently called for the immediate withdrawal of the communication.
- Instruction to Teachers
The teacher unions advised all teachers and educational workers not to comply with the request for the submission of personal files until further notice.
- Allegation of Deliberate Delays
According to the unions, the directive represents an attempt to delay the resolution of matters relating to job evaluation and teacher welfare.
They contend that previous directives from the Government and interventions by the National Labour Commission had already provided a pathway for addressing concerns surrounding teachers’ grading and conditions of service.
Alternative Proposal from the Unions
Rather than requiring individual teachers to resubmit documents already available within the system, the unions propose that GES, FWSC, and PSC should retrieve the necessary records directly from existing staff files located at schools, district offices, regional offices, and headquarters.
The unions maintain that such an approach would reduce administrative burdens on teachers while allowing the Job Evaluation Exercise to proceed efficiently.
High-Level Stakeholders Copied
The unions copied their response to several key institutions and officials, including:
- Minister for Education
- Minister for Finance
- Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment
- Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission
- Chairman of the Public Services Commission
- Executive Secretary of the National Labour Commission
- Director-General of the Ghana Education Service
The broad distribution of the letter highlights the significance of the dispute and its potential implications for education sector reforms.
Implications for Teachers and the New Scheme of Service
The latest development creates uncertainty around the implementation of the Job Evaluation Exercise, a process widely viewed as critical to determining appropriate grading structures, salary placement, rank alignment, and career progression under the new GES Scheme of Service.
With the unions directing members not to comply and GES pursuing the exercise, many teachers are awaiting further engagement between the parties.
Education stakeholders will be closely monitoring developments in the coming days to determine whether a consensus can be reached to prevent further delays in the implementation of reforms affecting thousands of teachers across the country.
Related Articles
- New GES Scheme of Service: What Teachers Need to Know
- Understanding Career Progression in the Ghana Education Service
- Decoupling Grade from Duty Post Explained
- Promotion Guidelines for Deputy Directors in GES
- Job Evaluation Exercise and Its Impact on Teacher Salaries
External References
- Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC)
- Public Services Commission (PSC)
- National Labour Commission (NLC)
- Ghana Education Service (GES)
