Private schools to close October 30 for teacher well-being training

Private schools across Ghana are scheduled to close on Friday, October 30, 2026, to facilitate the inaugural National Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Day. This mandatory event, which focuses on the mental health and emotional intelligence of educators, marks a significant shift toward prioritizing the well-being of school staff as a foundation for quality education. The initiative is a collaborative effort between the National Teaching Council (NTC), the National Schools Inspectorate Authority (NaSIA), and the Ghana Education Service (GES), organized in partnership with the Private Education Council.

Under the theme “Promoting Teacher Well-being and Quality Education,” the training aims to equip teachers with essential coping strategies and emotional tools to manage the demands of the modern classroom. Obenfo Nana Kwasi Gyetuah, the Executive Director of the Private Education Council, emphasized that teacher well-being is a necessary prerequisite for effective learning. By addressing the psychological health of educators, the program seeks to ensure that staff are better equipped to support their students' academic and personal growth.

The professional development session is mandatory for all teachers within the private education sector, with a participation cost of GH‡200 per phase. Education authorities have indicated that this CPD Day is not a one-off event; it will become an annual requirement for all private schools in Ghana. This systemic approach is intended to standardize professional growth and ensure that support mechanisms for teachers are consistently applied across the private sector.

By dedicating a specific day to professional development focused on well-being, the National Teaching Council and its partners are acknowledging the significant psychological demands placed on the teaching profession. This inaugural event is expected to set a new standard for how private educational institutions support their workforce. As schools prepare for the nationwide closure on October 30, the move signals a broader commitment to ensuring that the human element of the education system remains resilient and well-supported.