The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has called for an immediate review of the Single Spine Pay Policy, warning that the current salary structure and pension system are failing teachers and undermining morale in the education sector.

Speaking at a public engagement attended by government officials, GNAT President Rev. Isaac Owusu said teachers are grappling with poor conditions of service that do not reflect their training, workload, or contribution to national development.

“We face an ongoing crisis regarding the conditions of service where many teachers struggle with inadequate salaries that do not reflect their hard work and education,” Rev. Owusu said.

He stressed that GNAT expects the government to urgently review the Single Spine Pay Policy within the year to align with what he described as the government’s “resetting agenda.”

“We are resetting Ghana, and so the pay policy must reflect the resetting agenda. A well-motivated teacher is more productive, and this directly translates into better learning outcomes for our students,” he noted.

Beyond salaries, the GNAT President highlighted what he described as a deepening pension crisis among teachers, calling for urgent reforms to the existing 30-year pension scheme. According to him, many teachers retire after decades of service only to receive lump sums that are inadequate for dignified living.

He lamented that some retired teachers cannot even receive GH¢500,000 as lump sum after over 40 years of service, a situation he said has contributed to hardship and premature deaths among pensioners.

Rev. Owusu also demanded dedicated and guaranteed funding for public basic education, arguing that quality education cannot be achieved without sustained investment at all levels of the education system.

Additionally, GNAT raised concerns about the safety and security of teachers, citing recent attacks and assaults on educators across the country. He referenced a recent shooting incident involving a teacher in the Garu District of the Upper East Region as evidence of growing risks in the profession.

“Teachers are increasingly exposed to attacks from individuals and even students within some communities. The workplace must be made safe and secure,” he said.

GNAT’s demands come amid renewed national conversations on public sector pay, pension reforms, and education financing, as labour unions continue to press the government to improve conditions for workers under the Single Spine Salary Structure.

The association says it expects the government to engage teachers urgently to prevent further erosion of morale within the profession.