Concerns have been raised by the Diploma in Education graduates regarding the actions of the Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum concerning their recruitment.
They believe that his actions, if not addressed, could significantly impact the votes of other NPP parliamentary candidates and that of His Excellency Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in the upcoming 2024 general elections.
Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, who is also a member of parliament for the Bosomtwe Constituency in the Ashanti Region, has been accused of unfairly denying thousands of Diploma in Education graduates the opportunity to apply for recruitment as permanent teachers in the Ghana Education Service.
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According to these graduates, the Education Regulatory Bodies Act 2020, article 68 subsections 1 and 2, stipulate that a person qualifies to practice as a teacher if they hold a certificate from an institution recognized by the Board and pass a licentiate examination conducted by the Board.
Diploma in Education graduates fulfill these requirements as their certificates are awarded by recognized institutions and they have successfully passed the GTLE exams.
The Minister’s recent statement at the Accra International Conference Centre on July 30th, 2024, that a Bachelor’s Degree is now mandatory for teaching even at the kindergarten level, further fuels these concerns.
Many argue that this requirement unfairly disadvantages Diploma graduates, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds who may have opted for diploma programmes due to financial constraints.
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They assert that if the Education Minister truly believes in the principles of the free SHS program, he would recognize the qualifications and potential of Diploma in Education graduates to contribute effectively as teachers.
The Diploma in Education graduates are now appealing to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to urgently address this issue.
They warn that failure to do so could lead to a significant reduction in votes for other NPP parliamentary candidates as well as for His Excellency Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.