Over 60,000 teachers complete GES promotion exercise as new policy expands career opportunities

More than 60,000 teachers across the country have successfully completed the three-day Ghana Education Service (GES) promotion exercise, which is expected to significantly expand opportunities for career advancement under a policy that separates professional ranks from administrative positions.

The exercise ended on Wednesday, November 5, with monitoring officers reporting a generally smooth and incident-free process at all centres nationwide.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the GES, in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Daniel Fenyi, said this year's exercise was particularly significant because it marked a major step in implementing the policy to decouple professional ranks from office positions.

The policy is intended to broaden career progression opportunities and ensure that deserving teachers are not disadvantaged by the limited availability of positions within the Service's administrative structure.

Under the new arrangement, the number of teachers attaining the rank of Director II is expected to increase by 1,500 per cent, while those attaining Director I will increase by 340 per cent.

The Service is also expected to record substantial increases in the number of teachers advancing through other professional ranks, including Principal Superintendent (PS), Assistant Director II (ADII), Assistant Director I (ADI) and Deputy Director (DD).

The GES described the changes as a significant shift in the career progression framework, which places greater emphasis on professional competence, experience and continued service.

It stressed that, as was the case last year, deliberate measures had been taken to ensure that all deserving staff could progress to higher ranks without being constrained by the availability of vacancies.

The policy is expected to have far-reaching implications for teacher morale and professional motivation by creating a more inclusive system that recognises the contributions and professional development of teachers.

The Service wished all teachers who participated in the exercise success and acknowledged the dedication of the officers, invigilators, administrators and other stakeholders whose efforts contributed to its smooth conduct.