Teachers abscond after further studies

- GES expresses concern
The Ghana Education Service (GES) on Monday expressed concern about teachers not returning to the classrooms after pursing further studies in tertiary institutions.

Mr John Budu-Smith, Acting Director General of the GES said the situation had created an imbalance in the student-teacher ratio and a yawning gap that had to be filled. Mr Budu Smith was addressing a two-day workshop to discuss the determination of the " quota system ", an initiative by the GES to ensure that teachers pursued courses that were relevant to the service.

Figures made available to the Ghana News Agency indicated that out of the 16,446 teachers, who went on study leave between 1997 and 2002, only 4,914 teachers returned to post. This according to the service had created a vacancy of 11,532.

Meanwhile for 2002/2003 academic-year, 13,513 teachers have already applied for study leave to pursue various courses. Ashanti Region alone has 2,270 applicants followed by Central with 2,121.

Eastern has 2,120 while Volta has 2,056. The rest are, Western Region, 1,281, Northern recorded 1,158, Greater Accra 981, Upper East 566, Brong Ahafo 602 and Upper West Region 358.