Teachers to write licence exams

• Posted on August 15, 2017August 15, 2017
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Teachers will now have to pass a special examination before being granted the licence to teach, the National Teachers Council (NTC) of the Ministry of Education has announced.

The move which is in accordance with the new Teachers Licencing Policy under the Education Act 778 (2008) is to enforce discipline and eliminate non-performing teachers from the system.

The Executive Secretary-designate of the NTC, Dr Augustine Tawiah made this known in Accra last week at the closing ceremony of a five-day intensive in-service training workshop for teachers in the Greater Accra Region.

He said beginning next January, the ministry would undertake re-registration of all teachers in the country to facilitate the issuance of the licences.

Dr. Tawiah said all formalities for the full implementation of the Act had been finalised and a secretariat to issue the licence had been established.

He said, no teacher could teach in any school in the country without the Teacher’s Licence from next year.

Dr. Tawiah explained that renewal of the licence would be based on professional competence and development of teachers, stressing that, all teachers would be expected to renew their licence within three to five years.

“There are some teachers who, right after graduation from the training colleges, do not upgrade their knowledge in their subject areas and also do not upgrade their teaching skills and methodology. Teachers who would apply for renewal of licence must prove they have personally undertaken some professional upgrading of knowledge and skills” he said.

Dr. Tawiah mentioned that teachers who teach students to fail continuously in examinations like the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and other local and national examinations would not get their licences renewed.

He emphasised that the licence was to get rid of lazy and non-performing teachers in the educational sector, adding that it would require teachers to prove their competence and achieve results, in their areas of specialisations.

Dr. Tawiah noted that new teachers would receive their licences after graduation next year, but those already in the system must provide evidence and prove to the ministry of their achievements in the teaching profession to renew their licence.

He disclosed that, the ministry and the National Teaching Council (NTC) would soon embark on public education and deepen consultations on the new Teacher’s Licensing Policy to ensure a smooth take-off next year.

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