In Service Teachers not Part of Teacher Licensing Examination

In Service Teachers not Part of Teacher Licensing Examination.

The National Teaching Council (NTC) has indicated emphatically, the modalities for conducting the infamous Teacher Licensing Examination which was been part of the New Teacher Education Reform Policy Implementation.

The National Teaching Council indicated that in-service (All Existing Teachers) will be given the license without asessment provided they have valid certificates.

The NTC further stated that Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) will have to pass an assessment and tests based on the National Teachers’ Standards (NTS) to qualify for their license.

For a successful Renewal of the License, all teachers who receive an initial licence would be expected to renew it based on a number of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities to sharpen their skills to remain relevant to the profession.

Background to Teacher Education Reforms in Ghana

• In the past 20 years, there have been numerous minor reforms in teacher education in Ghana, which have had very little impact on children’s learning outcomes.

• The preparation of teachers has not adequately responded to the lack of improvement in learning outcomes at the basic school system, and this calls for reforms in the teacher education sector in Ghana.

• T-TEL comes at a time when the Ministry of Education has launched the Pre Tertiary Teacher Professional Development and Management (PTPDM) Policy, which is aimed at streamlining the professional and career progression of teachers within the appropriate competency framework in the pre tertiary sector.

• Passage of the Education Act in 2008 (Act 778), and the creation of the National Teaching Council to regulate and license the teaching profession

• Introduction of the Pre Tertiary Teacher Development and Management Policy in 2012 to streamline career progression of teachers based on established standards and competencies

• Passage of the Colleges of Education Act in 2012 (Act 847) to upgrade Colleges of Education into tertiary institutions.

• Persistent under achievement of basic education system in Ghana.