The Ghana Education Service (GES) has officially declared Friday, January 23, 2026, as a National Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Day. While the day has been declared a holiday for learners to allow teachers to focus on “Cybersecurity and Data Protection” training, a wave of discontent is growing within the teaching fraternity.
For many educators, the announcement of a mandatory training day brings back the familiar sting of what they describe as “disrespectful” financial treatment—specifically, the GH₵20.00 Transportation and Tort (TNT) allowance.
A Professional Training or a Financial Burden?
The GES directive aims to build teacher capacity “without disruption”. However, teachers argue that the disruption is happening in their pockets. In an era where transportation fares have skyrocketed, many teachers are asking how a professional is expected to travel to training centers, feed themselves, and return home on a mere GH₵20.00.
“Giving a professional teacher 20 cedis for a whole day’s program is not just small; it is an embarrassment,” noted one educator in a viral social media reaction. “It costs more than 20 cedis just to take a ‘dropping’ to some of these centers, let alone the return journey.”
The Per Diem Silence
While the official letter from the Acting Deputy Director-General (Q & A), Munawaru Issahaque (PhD), focuses on the “institutional support” for teachers, it remains silent on the actual per diem or realistic transportation adjustments.
Teachers feel their voices are being ignored regarding the following:
- The High Cost of Living: GH₵20.00 cannot even buy a decent lunch in most municipal areas, let alone cover transport.
- Disrespect to the Profession: Many feel that the low TNT rates signal a lack of value for the teaching profession compared to other public sectors where training workshops come with realistic “out-of-station” allowances.
The Cybersecurity Mandate: At Whose Expense?
The training scheduled for January 23rd is the second phase of a critical Cybersecurity program. While digital safety is undeniably important, the “forced” nature of these sessions—where teachers are mandated to attend but are not adequately compensated for their movement—is creating a “volatile” mood among the staff.
Education observers warn that if the GES does not address the “20 cedis embarrassment,” the intended capacity building may be overshadowed by low morale and a lack of genuine engagement from the workforce.
Call for Realistic Compensation
Teacher groups are calling on the GES Council and the Ministry of Education to sit up and provide realistic support. If the goal is to “empower excellence through assessment” and training, it must start with treating the trainers with the dignity they deserve.
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