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During his recent ‘Building Ghana Tour’ in the Bono Region, former President John Dramani Mahama pledged to eliminate teacher licensure exams, sparking controversy within educational circles. He argued that subjecting teacher trainees to an extra assessment after completing rigorous four-year Bachelor of Education programs was unnecessary.
Dr. Clement Apaak, Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Education Committee, clarified Mahama’s stance, emphasizing that Mahama supports the licensing of teachers but opposes the requirement for teacher trainees to undergo the specific licensure exams. Apaak highlighted that Mahama isn’t against teachers being professionals or following best practices, but rather challenges the current practice mandating the licensure exam, which lacks a firm basis in the Teaching Act.
Various associations, including the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG), have voiced support for the exams, emphasizing their importance in maintaining teaching standards. However, Sammy Gyamfi, the Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), accused the current administration of using the exams to limit teacher recruitment.
Mahama’s argument centered on the comprehensive training teacher trainees already undergo, encompassing at least 50 courses and eight semesters of intensive study and rigorous assessment via exams. He questioned the necessity of an additional exam following such extensive preparation.
This debate has brought into focus the need to differentiate between licensing teachers as professionals and the specific requirement for a licensure exam, sparking discussions about the validity and necessity of these assessments within Ghana’s educational system.
