Teachers Who Visit GES Headquarters During School Hours to Face ‘Absence from Duty’ Sanctions

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has cautioned teachers across the country against leaving their duty posts during official school hours to visit the headquarters or engage the media over their concerns.

In a directive dated March 9, 2026, and signed by Acting Deputy Director-General (Quality and Assurance), Munawaru Issahaque, the Service noted that it had observed a growing trend where some teachers, particularly newly recruited staff, form unrecognized splinter groups and besiege the headquarters to demand solutions to their concerns.

According to the management of GES, these actions often occur during official school hours, with teachers abandoning their classrooms without first reporting their concerns through the appropriate administrative channels.

“The teacher profession is a noble one governed by a Code of Conduct. Every member of staff is mandated to uphold the highest standards of professionalism in strict compliance with this Code,” the statement said.

The Service emphasized that teachers with grievances must first report such issues to their Heads of School. The concerns should then be escalated through the District and Regional Directorates where necessary.

GES further stressed that the National Office engages directly only with Regional Directorates and legally recognized teacher unions registered under the laws of Ghana.

ALSO READ: Education Minister Proposes WASSCE Maths Re-sit for Students Who Failed the Subject

The directive warned that any teacher who leaves their duty post and is found at the headquarters or elsewhere during official school hours, or who is captured on video or audio granting media interviews during school hours, will be treated as being on “absence from duty” as stipulated in the GES Code of Conduct.

Management has therefore instructed all Regional Directors of Education to supervise District Directors and Heads of School to ensure strict compliance with the directive.

District Directors and Heads of School have also been directed to record and report any cases of teacher absenteeism to management. Teachers captured on video or audio engaging media houses or found at the headquarters during school hours will be held accountable together with the relevant School Heads and District Directors.

GES acknowledged the progress made in clearing inherited administrative backlogs and streamlining processing systems but maintained that outstanding staff matters must be addressed through the established administrative channels rather than through confrontational approaches at the headquarters or in the media.

Management assured teachers that their welfare remains a priority and reiterated its commitment to addressing legitimate concerns through due process and structured engagement.

Join ourWHATSAPP CHANNEL, WHATSAPP GROUP 1, WHATSAPP GROUP 2 and TELEGRAM CHANNEL to get all relevant teaching resources to make your lessons effective.

Subscribe to this blog and follow us on facebook