The government has announced plans to reform the teacher licensing system by integrating the licensure assessment into the final year training of students in universities and colleges of education.
The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, explained that the move would eliminate the need for newly trained teachers to sit for a separate licensing examination after graduation.
Speaking in an interview on TV3 New Day with Roland Walker, the minister said the current system of conducting standalone licensure examinations would be discontinued as part of efforts to streamline teacher certification.
“We will incorporate it into the final year training of universities and colleges of education,” he said, stressing that the government would end the existing licensure examination structure.
According to him, a transition process is underway and is being coordinated by the National Teaching Council to ensure a smooth shift to the new system.
The minister explained that a temporary exemption was recently granted to the University of Ghana after the institution formally requested permission to conduct the examination for a particular group of graduates.
Beyond the licensing reform, Mr Iddrisu also addressed concerns about teacher welfare, acknowledging delays in the payment of certain allowances and arrears owed to educators.
He said the government was working with the Ministry of Finance and the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department to resolve the issue.
“We promised that we were going to give them a certain percentage of their deserved arrears. We are working at that and that will be done,” he said.
The minister further noted that improving the quality of teaching would require stronger emphasis on practical, application-based learning during training, along with continuous professional development and incentives to motivate teachers, especially those who accept postings to rural communities.
