Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has expressed solidarity with newly posted teachers who protested over delays in the payment of their salaries.

He described their action as “legitimate” and said he would have joined in if he were in their situation.

Speaking at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, September 30, after receiving a petition from the aggrieved teachers, Mr. Iddrisu assured them that the government was working on a clear roadmap to address the arrears.

• Read also: I’ll walk the talk; working 13 months without pay is unacceptable – Education Minister to newly posted teachers

“I met the Finance Minister on Tuesday [23 September] and we had an understanding of a road map. That road map will deal with the category of 6,700, followed by 2023, and then later 2024. My assurance to you is that it’s legitimate for you to protest as you have done, it’s within your rights.

"You have demonstrated peacefully, it has ended peacefully, and it’s legitimate. I would have done the same if I were in your shoes. Nobody would work 13 months without salary. We need you,” he said.

The protest, which began at Obra Spot near Nkrumah Circle, saw teachers from the 2022 batch of the Colleges of Education and other university graduates march through the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance before converging at the presidency.

• Read also: Newly posted teachers picket Jubilee House over 13 months of unpaid salaries

According to the lead convener, Simon Kofi Nartey, the demonstration had become necessary after their September 23 deadline expired without any response from the authorities.

The group stated that the action was not only about their livelihoods but also about safeguarding the quality of education, which is undermined when newly recruited teachers struggle to afford transportation, accommodation, and other basic needs.