Teachers to write licence exams
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.
Source: Graphic.com.gh
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