The Government has announced plans to recruit 550 Arabic language teachers nationwide within the next six months as part of efforts to address a critical shortage of instructors in Islamic basic schools across the country.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, during a meeting with a delegation from the Conference of Regional Chief Imams in Accra. The statement was contained in a release issued by the Conference and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani.
According to the Minister, the recruitment drive will begin with 50 Arabic teachers by the end of July 2026, followed by an additional 500 permanent appointments through the Ghana Education Service (GES) in January 2027.
The move is intended to bridge the widening gap in Arabic language instruction and strengthen teaching capacity in Islamic schools nationwide.
The delegation was led by Sheikh Abdul Rashid Iddi, Chairman of the Conference of Regional Chief Imams, and included representatives from Ahlussunna Wal-Jama’a, the Ghana Muslim Mission, the Islamic Education Unit, and officials from the Office of the National Chief Imam.
Mr Iddrisu commended the leadership of the Islamic community for its continued collaboration with government in advancing quality education and addressing challenges in the sector. He reaffirmed government’s commitment to working closely with stakeholders to improve access to Islamic education and enhance learning outcomes.
Sheikh Rear Admiral Muniru Tahiru (rtd) said the visit was undertaken at the request of the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, who is concerned about the shortage of Arabic teachers and its impact on Islamic education.
Presenting a detailed overview of the situation, the General Manager of the Islamic Education Unit, Mr Abdul Karim Bapuni, disclosed that Ghana currently has 1,299 Islamic basic schools but only 706 Arabic teachers on the government payroll.
He explained that the country requires about 3,033 Arabic teachers, leaving a deficit of approximately 2,512 teachers, a gap he said is affecting teaching quality across Islamic schools.
Mr Bapuni also highlighted additional challenges, including the absence of a standardised Arabic curriculum and textbooks at the primary level, inadequate monitoring resources, and weak administrative infrastructure.
He warned that these challenges have resulted in disparities in educational standards and uneven learning outcomes across Islamic schools nationwide.
Earlier, Sheikh Abdul Rashid Iddi had expressed concern about the state of Arabic instruction, stressing the urgent need for government intervention to improve staffing levels in Islamic schools.
The Ministry of Education’s commitment to recruitment is expected to form part of broader efforts to strengthen inclusive education and improve access to quality learning in religious-based institutions across the country.
