The Deputy Minister of Education, Dr. John Ntim Fordjour, has reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to continuing the teacher licensure examination. This decision aims to ensure the production of professional teachers for the education sector, he explained during the launch of this year’s Ghana Teacher Prize in Accra.
Dr. Fordjour emphasized that the licensure exam has provided a framework for recognizing teachers as professionals, which is essential for the sector’s growth. He dismissed calls to ban the teacher licensure examination, made by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, stating that it would not benefit the sector.
The Deputy Minister highlighted the significance of the licensure exam in professionalizing teaching, ensuring that teachers are recognized as professionals upon whom other professionals rely. October 5th is celebrated globally as World Teachers’ Day, acknowledging the vital role teachers play in producing quality students despite limited resources.
This year’s theme, “Celebrating excellence, valorizing our teachers,” will be commemorated in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, with a focus on teacher motivation and licensure exams. Education stakeholders, including GNAT, NAGRAT, CCT, and TEWU, have raised concerns about resource allocation, calling for increased funding to support infrastructure in the sector.
The General Secretary of GNAT, Thomas Musah Tanko, emphasized the need for government to commit at least 20% of its expenditure to education, currently standing at around 3%. The Deputy Minister pledged government’s commitment to providing resources, while the Director General of the Ghana Education Service, Dr. Eric Nkansah, underscored the need for innovations to support teachers.
