Education Minister orders abolition of teacher licensure exams

Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister of Education, has mandated a newly appointed National Teaching Council (NTC) Committee to formulate a new approach  for assessing teacher qualifications, that will focus more on academic training and practical fieldwork in place of traditional licensing exams.

The directive is in line  with President John Mahama’s 2024 campaign promise to remove the teacher licensure exams if elected.

Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister of Education, said that “Yes, it’s true the NDC campaigned on the manifesto promise—we will end licensure exams. We did, and we will keep faith with the electorate. But I need professional advice on this matter. That is why I’m putting this committee together to advise, most appropriately, how to work through the transition. A transition from a licensure exam regime to a no-licensure-exams regime.”

He elaborated that the committee’s purpose is to guide the process of moving from the current licensure examination system to a new form of assessment of teacher qualifications.

Mr Haruna Iddrisu recommended that the NTC should also explore the possibility of granting one final opportunity for those who didn’t pass previous exams to retake before the exams are eliminated.

He asked that “With further advice, I want to say that one last opportunity of a resit of the licensure exams for those who couldn’t make it the last time must also be part of your recommendations. What do we do? Do we offer them an opportunity of a resit?”

He reaffirmed that academic training should be integral to any new approach and practical fieldwork as an essential part of the teacher education curriculum.

Mr Haruna Iddrisu added that “In our manifesto again, it was our pledge to incorporate it into the curriculum of teacher training institutions… that it becomes part of their curriculum.”

Apart from teacher qualification reforms, Mr Iddrisu also expressed concern over the competence of tertiary-level graduates. He made these comments in the course of the inauguration of the new board of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).

He reminded the board of their the vital part in ensuring higher education quality nationwide. He again said that “Focus primarily on the regulatory mandate of the Commission, and in particular, as you are aware, higher education remains the exit point for many young people getting exposure into the world of work.”

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