Speaking on Sunday, November 15, 2023, at a ceremony for students of the College of Distance Education, University of Cape Coast, Mr. Lawrence Sarpong, the deputy registrar of the National Teaching Council, emphasised the importance of the Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination and the actions the council is taking to raise the standards of teachers.
The Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination
Mr. Lawrence Sarpong accentuated that Ghana can select and assign the best teachers to its schools through the Ghana Licensure Examination, which was launched in September 2018. He reiterated that the licensure examination organised by the National Teaching Council is akin to the water production process. Through the Registrar of Companies, water-producing companies are given authorisation to produce potable water for our consumption but when they do, it has to be checked and certified by the Food and Drugs Authority and Ghana Standard Authority to ensure they are fit for purpose. He positioned, the National Teaching Council, as a gatekeeper of the teaching and learning process, quality assures the teacher education delivery in teacher training institutions and gate keeps entry into the teaching profession.
UK Government offering Qualifying Teacher Status (QTS) opportunities
In shedding light on the UK Government offering Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) opportunities to Ghanaian teachers to teach in the UK, Mr. Lawrence Sarpong documented how the National Teaching Council engaged the UK to foster that collaboration. He recounted that the steps taken by the National Teaching Council in ensuring standards of teachers through training content for teachers, licensure examination, and continuous professional development for teachers are contributory factors to these enviable feet. Aside UK, several countries like Jamaica, and Canada have a huge interest in recruiting teachers from Ghana.
Africa Teaching Authorities (AFTRA) and International Forum of Teaching Regulatory Authorities (IFTRA) membership
Mr. Lawrence Sarpong remarked that the National Teaching Council is a member of the Africa Teaching Authorities (AFTRA) and International Forum of Teaching Regulatory Authorities (IFTRA) and it is an agenda by AFTRA to ensure teachers with licenses in their respective countries practice in other countries.
The Teacher Portal developed by the National Teaching Council
The deputy registrar stated that the teacher portal features a verification function where teachers’ license numbers can be entered to confirm their authenticity for recruitment, placement and for evaluation.
In conclusion, he urged the students to have faith in the National Teaching Council’s system, which was established to guarantee that teachers’ standards are fulfilled. He notified that the subject-specific licensure examination, a reform in the licensure examination will enable prospective teachers write the examination in their subject area of specialisation and it is aimed at empowering teachers to be relevant globally.
