The Centre for Democratic Movement (CDM) has declared Ghana’s worsening teacher recruitment shortfall a “national emergency,” arguing that government inaction violates its constitutional obligations under Article 25(1)(a), which guarantees Free, Compulsory and Universal Basic Education (FCUBE).

The group maintains that the crisis is not an administrative lapse but a direct failure to uphold the fundamental right to education, warning that prolonged neglect undermines both equity and democratic accountability.

CDM cites stark figures to illustrate the scale of the problem, more than 30,000 classrooms reportedly lack teachers, while over 60,000 trained educators remain unemployed.

At the same time, nearly one million children are said to be out of school, with independent assessments projecting learning losses of 64% in arithmetic and 18% in reading.

The group warns that this trajectory could push more than 1.2 million children into learning poverty, describing the situation as a looming generational crisis fueled by systemic workforce planning failures.

The movement sharply criticizes what it calls the government’s “delay, opacity and indifference” since the 2026 Budget presentation, arguing that cyclical recruitment delays and the absence of a sustainable teacher forecasting and hiring policy have deepened the crisis.

CDM contends that each month of inaction widens inequality, erodes public trust, and weakens Ghana’s long-term development prospects.

To address the emergency, CDM has proposed a six-point action plan, including the immediate absorption and fair posting of all qualified unemployed teachers, particularly to underserved areas.

It calls for transparent recruitment timelines, a district-by-district deployment framework, and the creation of an Education Emergency Response Fund to support recruitment and professional development.

The group also demands stronger parliamentary oversight, including quarterly updates and an urgent ministerial briefing within 30 days, reiterating that education is a constitutional right and a cornerstone of national progress.