The National Teaching Council (NTC) has commenced the issuance of licenses to newly qualified teachers and teachers who have been exempted from the Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination (GTLE) nationwide.
The exercise, which is expected to end on June 14, 2023, would see 19,484 teachers receiving licenses to be fully recognised to work in the pre-tertiary public education space.
The teacher licensing initiative was introduced to ensure that teachers work with the right qualifications, adhere to required standards, and uphold professionalism to enhance effective teaching and learning.
The Registrar of the NTC, Dr. Christian Addai-Poku, who made this known last Monday in Accra, said the centres had been created in the regions for the teachers to receive their licenses on scheduled dates.
He said the Greater Accra Region had the highest number of 5,447 teachers while the Savanna Region had the lowest of 189.
Dr. Addai-Poku was upbeat that with the measures put in place, the distribution would go on smoothly to attain the purpose of the exercise.
He appealed to all stakeholders to cooperate with the personnel assigned to the project to ensure a smooth process.
The registrar appealed to all regional, municipal, metropolitan, and district directors of education to actively monitor the process to ensure a successful exercise.
Teachers employed after August 31, 2018 are required to pass the Ghana teacher licensure exams to merit the license and registration number. Thus, their provisional license shall be replaced with a full license during the exercise.
Teachers who fail to avail themselves of the licensing and registration exercise, NTC said, shall lose their right to practice as teachers in Ghana in accordance with section 64 (I) of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023).
As of November 2021, a total of 128,789 government teachers were issued an NTC license card as part of plans to promote quality education and teacher professionalisation in the country.
The NTC is an agency of the Ministry of Education (MOE) mandated by the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023) to promote teacher professionalism in Ghana.
The key mandate of the NTC includes licensing and registration of teachers, keeping an up-to-date database of teachers, developing and periodically reviewing professional standards and a code of ethics.
It conducts the Teacher Licensure Examination as well as provides the framework for the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) of teachers.
The mission is to promote excellence and professionalism among teachers and managers of schools by ensuring standards at all levels of the education system through licensing of teachers.
It is also to monitor and supervise teacher education programmes; promote continuing professional development: maintain discipline and lead the overall process of transforming education delivery.
The vision is to provide the standards guiding teacher preparation and practice and promoting world-class teaching and learning
To achieve its objectives, the NTC advises the Minister of Education on matters relating to the professional standing and status of teachers, and on the education, development, and employment of teachers, among other things.
