The National Teaching Council (NTC) has intensified its efforts to professionalise Ghana’s teaching workforce, warning that more than 100,000 non-professional teachers currently working in basic and private schools could face removal from classrooms if they fail to obtain the required qualifications and teaching licences.
According to the Council, the presence of unqualified teachers continues to undermine efforts to improve educational outcomes, particularly in rural and underserved communities where non-professional educators remain widespread.
Speaking at a special matriculation ceremony for newly admitted students of the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) programme at the Catholic University of Ghana (CUG), the Director of Teacher Licensing at the NTC, Mr Francis Addae, underscored the importance of professional certification and urged untrained teachers to regularise their status.
Thousands Yet to Meet Licensing Requirements
Mr Addae revealed that a recent compliance audit conducted by the council in second-cycle institutions identified approximately 12,279 graduate teachers who are currently teaching without the professional qualifications required for licensing.
READ MORE: CAGD drops update on unpaid salaries of teachers
He stressed that the NTC remains committed to enforcing professional standards across the education sector and urged affected teachers to take immediate steps to acquire the necessary credentials.
“The time may come when individuals without the required qualifications and licences will no longer be permitted to teach,” he cautioned.
He explained that the PGDE programme forms a key component of the Council’s strategy to equip non-professional teachers with the pedagogical training necessary to qualify for teacher licensing.
Low Enrolment Despite High Numbers
Despite the significant number of unlicensed graduate teachers identified at the senior high school level, Mr. Addae disclosed that only about 1,421 teachers are currently enrolled in the PGDE programme nationwide.
He encouraged eligible teachers to seize the opportunity to upgrade their qualifications and urged participants to encourage their colleagues to enrol in subsequent cohorts expected later this year.
To enhance accessibility, the programme has been substantially subsidised, reducing tuition fees from between GH¢8,000 and GH¢9,000 to GH¢5,000, with flexible payment arrangements available.
Additionally, female teachers aged 35 years and below are expected to benefit from financial assistance under the Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project (GALOP).
Professional Training Critical to Modern Education
The Vice-Chancellor of the Catholic University of Ghana, Professor Matthew Glover Addo, highlighted the growing importance of professional teacher education, particularly for educators serving in rural and disadvantaged communities.
READ ALSO: Ghana’s public basic schools have more teachers than required — EduWatch
He noted that effective teaching in the 21st century extends beyond subject knowledge and requires expertise in pedagogy, educational psychology, classroom management, assessment practices, and professional ethics.
Professor Addo explained that the PGDE programme was introduced in line with Section 67(1) of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023), which mandates that individuals must be registered as professional teachers before practising in Ghana.
Addressing Teacher Shortages in Underserved Areas
According to the vice-chancellor, the programme is also designed to help address persistent teacher shortages in deprived communities by increasing the number of professionally trained educators available for deployment to such areas.
He disclosed that the NTC submitted 341 candidates to the university for admission under the programme, with 75 successfully enrolling.
Professor Addo commended the matriculating students for accepting postings to rural communities, where many trained teachers are often reluctant to serve, and encouraged them to remain disciplined, dedicated, and focused throughout their studies.
Teaching a Noble Vocation
Professor Addo further emphasised the crucial role teachers play in national development, describing teaching as a profession that extends beyond the classroom.
“Teaching is not merely a profession but a noble vocation that shapes the future of nations,” he stated.
The NTC’s renewed push for professionalisation forms part of broader efforts to improve the quality of education across the country and ensure that all learners are taught by qualified and licensed professionals.
Source: graphiconline