Former Minister for Education and Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has appealed to government to reconsider plans to abolish the Teacher Licensure Examination, warning that such a move could undermine efforts to uphold professional standards within the teaching profession.
Speaking in an interview with Channel One News, Dr Adutwum emphasised the value of the licensure system in validating the competence of teachers, particularly those seeking opportunities abroad.
He recalled that the programme was initially piloted by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) before being transitioned into a full-scale scheme under the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
“NDC piloted the Teacher Licensure Exams before we took over and made it a transitional scale programme. They are in power now. They have the authority. They want to change it; it is between them and the good people of Ghana,” Dr Adutwum stated.
“I, as a teacher, believe that, like accountants and lawyers, teachers must also have a license so that our respect will go through the roof. I am not promoting that teachers should leave the country, but with the license, a teacher goes to the UK, they can step into the classroom and teach.”
Dr Adutwum suggested that rather than eliminating the examination altogether, government could consider reforming its implementation—such as revising the timing—to better serve the needs of teacher trainees.
Meanwhile, the current Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has confirmed that the National Teaching Council (NTC) will grant one final opportunity for eligible trainees to resit the existing licensure examination before the deadline of 30th August.
This comes following a directive he issued to the Council to expedite preparations for the concluding sitting.
Mr Iddrisu further clarified that phasing out the current model forms part of a broader transition towards a new system of assessing teacher qualifications.
He assured the public that the forthcoming framework would preserve the standards and rigour required of the teaching profession.
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