Extra fees charged for Licensure exams to be refunded – NTC

• Posted on September 11, 2018
• by Ellsamwise King
• Comment

The National Teaching Council (NTC), may refund additional fees that some Colleges of Education demanded from teachers who sat for the teacher licensure exams on Monday.

The Public Relations Officer for the NTC, Dennis Owusu, made this known.

Hundreds of newly trained teachers who turned up for the exams on Monday expressed their frustration over some challenges including delays in the start of the exams.

Specifically in the Upper West Region, some teachers say they were each forced to pay an extra 10 cedis, aside the registration fee already paid for the exams.

Mr. Osei Owusu said the Council will investigate circumstances under which these fees were charged, and refund those monies if need be.

“So far, we have not actually had any bad news, but the only thing we heard was that some of the schools were charging some monies that we had no idea about, and so we still want to look into it and find out what actually led to these schools charging those amounts and if possible do a refund.”

‘Exam materials delay’

On Monday, newly trained teachers who turned up for the exams at the Nusrat Jahan Ahamadiya College of Education at Wa in the Upper West Region, were left stranded due to the late arrival of exam materials.

There were similar reports of delays in some colleges in the Volta, Ashanti, and Greater Accra Regions, but the exams eventually took place at all centers.

About the Licensure exams 

The examination applies to all teachers who hold the Diploma in Basic Education (DBE), Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) or a post-graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) who want to be employed by the Ghana Education Service.

The National Teaching Council is to oversee the exam in accordance with the Education Act, 2008 (Act 778).

There has however been opposition from some newly trained teachers who have argued that it is being rushed without adequate preparation.

Despite the fierce opposition the teacher licensure exam has received, the NTC has reported a high number of applicants.

Though the majority of the newly trained teachers voiced their displeasure with some even embarking on demonstrations, the council said over 13,700 of the expected 20,000 trainees have registered.

NDC flagbearer hopeful sues NTC over exams

A lawyer and flagbearer aspirant of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Elikplim Agbemava, a few days ago filed an interim injunction at the Supreme Court to stop the teacher licensure exams from happening.

He is praying the court to direct the National Teaching Council “to stop, cease or halt the ongoing registration and intended examination of only newly qualified teachers according to the Guidelines and procedures for the Licensure Examination until the final determination of this suit.”

Mr. Agbemava also insists that based on Article 190 (1) (a) and 3 of the Constitution, “Parliament lacked the power to create new public institutions that are, the National Teaching Council, National Inspectorate Board and the National Council for Curriculum Assessment to manage Ghana’s educational system.”