The Coalition of Unemployed University and Diploma Graduate Teachers has bemoaned what it described as neglect by the Ghana Education Service and Ministry of Education in the current teacher recruitment exercise.

The Coalition lamented that the exercise covered only 2022 graduates from public Colleges of Education, excluding university graduates and diploma holders.

In a petition addressed to President Akufo-Addo, the Coalition President, Felix Dagba asserted that the decision as unfair, biased, and discriminatory, adding that “The action is also against the principles of equality and fairness as enshrined in our national constitution”.

“As university graduates and diploma holders who have undergone vigorous academic training and
successfully passed our licensure exams, we believe that we are more than qualified to serve as
teachers in our educational system. However, the decision to exclude us from the recruitment process
is not only unjust but also a violation of our rights as citizens”, he further indicated.

He expressed dismay at the priority given to teacher trainees at the Colleges of Education, who are fed and given allowances while their counterparts in the universities are left to fend for themselves or rely on government loans which come with high compound interest rates.

“We demand that immediate action must be taken to rectify this injustice done to university students
and ensure that university graduates and diploma holders are given equal opportunities for
employment in the public sector”, he said.

The Coalition has also threatened a demonstration against the relevant agencies and as well vote against the governing New Patriotic Party in the upcoming general elections if their demands are not met.

“We also want to remind the government to know that we are in a period where we the citizens are
going to decide who should lead us in the upcoming general election which is just around the corner.
They [government] should be reminded and do what is just and right.

"We urge you [government] to take swift and decisive action to address this issue and uphold the
principles of equality and fairness that our constitution stands for. The time for action is now, and we will not rest until justice is served”, he concluded.