A Former National Executive of the Teacher Trainees Association of Ghana, Ekow Djan, has welcomed the ledge by the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Dramani Mahama to abolish the teacher Licensure Examination if he is elected as president.
Mr Djan said that the Licensure Examination, while implemented with good intentions, has presented obstacles and stress for aspiring teachers.
Mr Mahama has insisted that the teacher license examination does not make sense, therefore he will remove it if he becomes president again.
He wondered why students of the colleges of education write examinations throughout their stay in school, but when they are done and ready to teach, they are asked to write a license examination.
The National Teaching Council (NTC), an agency under the Ministry of Education in 2018 introduced the Teacher Licensure Examination aimed at licensing teachers who teach or want to teach in public pre-tertiary schools in the country.
This, according to the Ministry of Education, is in fulfillment of Section 12(4) of the Education Act, 2008 (Act 778) which states that “The programme of study for pre-tertiary teachers that lead to a license to teach shall be developed in consultation with the Council.”
But Mr Mahama said at a town hall meeting at Wenchi in the Bono Region “I spoke about the licensure exam in 2020. We will remove the licensure exam. The students write exam throughout the period they are in school and when they leave to work, you ask them to write another examination, it doesn’t make sense.”
In a statement reacting to this, Mr Ekow Djan said “As a former National executive of the Teacher Trainees Association of Ghana, I stand in full support of President Mahama’s recent commitment to cancel the Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination in 2025.
“The Teacher Trainees Association of Ghana has long been an advocate for the concerns and challenges faced by aspiring educators. President Mahama’s decision to eliminate the licensure examination reflects a deep understanding of the issues affecting our nation’s teachers and aligns with our persistent advocacy for positive change in the education sector. The Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination, while implemented with good intentions, has presented obstacles and stress for aspiring teachers. President Mahama’s vision recognizes the need to create a more conducive and supportive environment for educators, allowing them to focus on their crucial role in shaping the future of our nation.
“We believe that this bold step will not only alleviate the burden on teacher trainees but also contribute to the overall enhancement of the teaching profession in Ghana. It opens the door to a more inclusive and empowering educational system that fosters the growth and development of educators.
“President Mahama’s commitment to education resonates with our mission to ensure a favorable environment for teachers to thrive. We look forward to the positive impact that this decision will have on the teaching community and the education sector as a whole. We urge stakeholders, including fellow educators, policymakers, and the public, to rally behind this initiative for the betterment of Ghana’s education system.”
3news.com
