A senior education advisor at Africa Education Watch, Dr Peter Attafuah, has called for a policy requiring teachers to sign a bond after being posted to schools, in a bid to address the ongoing teacher shortage and improve retention rates.

His comments follow a recent incident at Sabonjida D/A School in the Northern region, where untrained volunteers like Senior High School graduates are compelled to teach students due to the absence of qualified teachers.

Speaking on the Joy News AM Show, Dr Attafuah emphasised the importance of enforcing such a policy to ensure teacher stability.

"We must attach a bond to their posting, ensuring that they remain at the assigned school for a minimum of five years, or even longer," Dr Attafuah explained.

"When a teacher signs the bond, they are committing to stay in that location for at least five years, if they choose to leave before completing that period, their name should be removed from the payroll," he said.

He continued, "If this system is effectively implemented and properly tracked, we can ensure that teachers remain at their posts for the required duration."

With the technology available today, it is entirely feasible to monitor their tenure and ensure that vacancies are filled promptly.

Dr Attafuah stressed that this approach would help maintain a stable workforce within schools.

"We need to ensure that teachers remain in their posts for a minimum of five years before requesting a transfer. This would not only guarantee that schools remain adequately staffed but also improve the overall functioning of the education system," he concluded.

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