The Former President and flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), H.E John Dramani Mahama, has pledged to abolish the teacher licensure exams should he be elected as President once more.
Mr. Mahama argues that the teacher certification program is entirely unnecessary, claiming that its introduction was an attempt to prevent highly qualified candidates from entering the teaching profession.
Under the current system, students in training colleges already undergo examinations at every stage of their education.
SEE ALSO: Dr. Bawumia Promises a 50% Increase in Trainees’ Allowance
Therefore, Mr. Mahama questions why they should be obligated to undertake further exams upon completing their four-year course of study before being assigned to teaching positions.
During a recent stop at Wenchi in the Bono Region as part of his Building Ghana Tour, Mr. Mahama expressed his opposition to the licensure exams, stating;
“This is an unnecessary venture for trainees to write these so-called exams. In the next NDC administration, we will cancel the teacher licensure exams.”
He further emphasized that this is not the first time the NDC has made a promise to eliminate these exams.
READ: Teacher Drags NTC, GES, and Attorney General to Court
Mr. Mahama reminded the audience that the manifesto for the 2020 NDC had also pledged to abolish the teacher licensure exams, which he argued deny numerous highly qualified teachers the opportunity to secure employment in the teaching profession.
“We will abolish the obnoxious teacher licensure exams for teacher trainees and restore the automatic employment of teacher trainee graduates,” Mr. Mahama declared.
“Let me state categorically that no teacher trainee graduate will be denied placement or employment under the next Mahama government.”
Mr. Mahama stressed that if the NDC wins the election, the incoming administration will implement pragmatic measures to ensure quality teaching and learning in colleges of education, with the overarching aim of making the teaching profession more attractive.