The Member of Parliament for Akatsi North, Peter Kwasi Nortsu-Kotoe, has expressed support for President Mahama’s proposal to provide a 20% allowance to teachers who accept postings to rural areas.
During his State of the Nation Address on February 27, 2025, President John Dramani Mahama announced that the government will introduce a 20% allowance for teachers serving in rural areas.
This initiative aims to encourage teachers to accept and remain in their posts in underserved communities.
Mr. Mahama stated that district assemblies would be responsible for monitoring the scheme to ensure that teachers stay at their designated posts.
In an interview on Orange Sunrise, Mr. Nortsu-Kotoe believes that the 20% allowance initiative will motivate teachers to remain in these areas, thereby enhancing the quality of teaching and learning.
He noted that in many rural constituencies like his, teachers face challenges in staying in hard-to-reach communities due to a lack of amenities, including potable water, electricity, and network connectivity.
He explained that these challenges often lead to a teacher deficit in such areas, and this incentive could help lessen their struggles.
“If this incentive is giving to them, at least for the sacrifices they are going to make over there, it will give them the motivation to remain in the community and teach them,” he told host Alfa Ali.
The Member of Parliament also pointed out that the president may have forgotten another initiative which was aimed at providing teachers who stay in deprived communities for three years study leave with pay to further their education.
He believes that this additional measure could have significantly improved the teacher deficiency in rural areas.
