The conference of Principals of Colleges of Education (PRINCOF) has urged the government and all relevant agencies to expedite negotiations with the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) and resolve the outstanding issues.
It cautioned that a prolonged strike would have severe national consequences, including disruption of the academic calendar, delayed teacher deployment, increased pressure on basic schools, and financial strain and pressure on colleges and trainees.
The government, it said, should demonstrate good faith and urgency in resolving the impasse.
Appeal
“PRINCOF wishes to appeal to CETAG to return to the negotiation table and resume academic work in the interest of students and the nation.
While appreciating the legitimate concerns of CETAG members, PRINCOF urges lecturers to consider the broader impact on teacher development and national education continuity,” a communique signed by the General Secretary of PRINCOF, Dr. Samuel Addae-Boateng, issued at the end of their 2025 annual conference, said.
The event, which was held from November 24 -28, 2025, at Ho in the Volta Region, was on the theme: “Leveraging AI Technology in Colleges of Education in Ghana for Improved Teacher Education.”
It was also used to launch The National NextGen Teachers’ Challenge for Teacher Education Institutions, under the auspices of the Centre for National Distance Learning and Open Schooling of the Ministry of Education, Ghana.
The communique called on the National Labour Commission, GTEC, Ministry of Education, Parliamentary Select Committee on Education, and civil society to support mediation efforts. A collaborative, transparent, and empathetic approach is needed to permanently resolve the recurring disputes in the Colleges of Education sector.
Digital readiness
PRINCOF proposed the creation of a National Digital Resources Fund for sustainable ICT upgrades and support from the government towards PRINCOF's e-Teaching & Learning platform.
It also advocates support for research clusters focusing on AI in teaching and learning.
It said it was grateful to the government for the recent assurances to acquire several operational vehicles for some.
“While thanking the government for the gesture, PRINCOF wishes to appeal to the government to procure the additional number required for the remaining principals of colleges of education in Ghana,” it said.
On feeding grants, it said the persistent delays in the disbursement of feeding grants and other statutory payments continue to disrupt operations across colleges and that the current daily feeding grant of GH¢S6.50 per student remains inadequate and continues to plunge the colleges of education into debt.
“PRINCOF appealed to the government to adhere to a predictable monthly release schedule of feeding grants and urged the government to adjust feeding grants upwards to reflect inflation and market volatility.
The communique said the government should take steps to pay colleges the top-up arrears of GH¢1.50 per student for the 2024/2025 Academic Year, as well as the extra two months' feeding arrears to colleges as a result of the prolonged strike by staff of the colleges of education in 2024.
Infrastructure
On infrastructure, it said lecture halls, laboratories, libraries, hostels, ICT centres, and staff accommodation remain inadequate and obsolete in many colleges.
It said PRINCOF acknowledged the government’s efforts toward the provision of critical infrastructure across the colleges of education.
“PRINCOF recommends that GETFund fast-tracks ongoing and stalled GETFund projects, while the government takes steps to expand digital infrastructure (smart classrooms, Wi-Fi, LMS, e-libraries), and launch a National College Infrastructure Modernisation Initiative.
“There is an urgent need to allocate seed money to the colleges of education to support their infrastructure development, as is done for newly established tertiary institutions,” it said.
It said the colleges continued to face understaffing due to limited recruitment clearances and ageing faculty, and, therefore, appealed to the government to expedite Ministry of Finance recruitment/clearance authorisations, and offer special dispensation for staff recruitment in colleges of education.
