The Upper East Regional Childhood Development Committee has raised serious concerns over the posting of untrained teachers to kindergartens and nursery schools, warning that the practice continues to undermine the quality of early childhood education in the region.
During the Committee’s first quarter meeting for 2026, held in Bolgatanga and supported by Children Believe, stakeholders highlighted that many teachers handling foundational classes lack specialized training in early childhood education, negatively impacting children’s development and learning outcomes.
Mrs. Georgina Aberese-Ako, Acting Regional Director of the Department of Children and Regional Coordinator of the Committee, revealed that monitoring visits to schools across the region uncovered widespread placement of unqualified personnel in early education classrooms. “Teachers without early childhood training are handling kindergarten pupils, and this is affecting their development,” she said.
Madam Yvonne Wonchua, Assistant Director at the Regional Coordinating Council, attributed the problem to the centralized teacher posting system managed from Accra, noting that regional authorities currently have limited influence over placements based on local needs. She urged the government to expedite the proposed decentralization of teacher postings to enable districts to fill schools with appropriately trained educators.
The meeting also highlighted critical infrastructural gaps, including inadequate Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities, which further hinder effective early childhood education.
Alhaji Mohammed Issahaku, Chief Director of the Regional Coordinating Council and Chairman of the Committee, called on all stakeholders to collaborate actively to address these challenges and ensure quality care, teaching, and learning for young children in the Upper East Region.
The Committee’s intervention underscores an urgent need for targeted reforms and investments to strengthen early childhood education at the grassroots level.
