Teacher Unions Defy GES Data Directive as SLTF Commences GHC1.3 Billion Loan Disbursement

Ghana’s education landscape is currently navigating a complex series of developments, ranging from significant financial aid milestones to labor disputes and environmental disruptions. The Student Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) has announced the commencement of second-semester disbursements under the 'No Academic Fee Stress Policy,' even as major teacher unions—GNAT, NAGRAT, and PRETAG—openly reject a new staff data directive from the Ghana Education Service (GES). Simultaneously, students at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) faced a localized crisis as heavy rainfall caused the Wewe River to overflow, temporarily halting academic activities.

Addressing the financial needs of the tertiary sector, SLTF CEO Dr. Saajida Shiraz confirmed that disbursement for the second semester of the 2025/2026 academic year will begin by the end of this week. This follows the successful payment of all first-semester loans, supported by adequate government funding. Of the GHC1.3 billion allocated for the year, approximately GHC830 million has already reached 310,000 students, including those enrolled at the Ghana Law School. Amidst this influx of support, Rosemary Aryee, head of the Repayment and Recovery Fund, has emphasized the importance of sustainability, urging past beneficiaries to settle their debts to ensure future students can also benefit from the scheme.

While students receive financial relief, the administrative side of education faces growing tension. The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and PRETAG have collectively instructed their members to ignore a GES directive issued on June 8, 2026. The directive required public school staff to submit personal records for a nationwide job evaluation aimed at updating the scheme of service. However, the unions contend that the GES already possesses sufficient data and have labeled the requirement as unnecessarily burdensome. They are currently demanding an immediate withdrawal of the letter and calling for stakeholder dialogue to establish a more efficient verification process.

Beyond administrative and financial shifts, environmental factors have also tested institutional resilience. At KNUST, a heavy morning downpour led to the overflow of the Wewe River, flooding the critical link between residential areas and lecture halls. Thousands of students were left stranded as roads and walkways became impassable, though university security and the deployment of large shuttle buses eventually restored movement by the early afternoon. These combined events underscore a pivotal moment for Ghanaian education, where the successful implementation of social interventions like student loans is being balanced against the logistical vulnerabilities of infrastructure and the ongoing need for collaborative governance between the state and its teaching workforce.