The National President of the Teacher Trainees’ Association of Ghana (TTAG), Jephthah Nana Kwame, has made an earnest appeal to the Ministry of Education and the National Teaching Council (NTC) to maintain the initial 50% pass mark for the Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination (GTLE).
This plea comes in response to the recent decision to increase the pass mark, which has posed a significant challenge for both the Association and trainees.
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During the opening ceremony of the Association’s 27th General Assembly, held at GNAT Village Abankro-Ejusi in the Ashanti region, Jephthah Nana Kwame highlighted the concerns raised regarding the recent GTLE results, which revealed a high number of mass failures.
In light of these concerns, the Association’s leadership is appealing to the Honorable Minister for Education to intervene and initiate a dialogue with the NTC to reconsider the decision to raise the pass mark from 50% to 70%.
“Even though we understand the NTC’s commitment to upholding excellence in the teaching profession as mandated by the Education Act 2008 (Act 778), section 9 to improve professional standing and status of teachers and to license and register teachers in Ghana, we firmly believe that a more balanced pass mark will not only maintain the examination’s integrity but also provide deserving individuals with a fair opportunity to pursue their chosen profession,” Jephthah Nana Kwame said.
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The GTLE serves as a crucial assessment for aspiring teachers in Ghana, determining their eligibility to obtain a teaching license.
The recent increase in the pass mark has sparked a wave of concern among teacher trainees, as they fear it may hinder their chances of entering the teaching profession.
Many argue that a pass mark of 70% is too high and may lead to a disproportionate number of failures, depriving talented individuals of the opportunity to contribute to the education sector.
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The leadership of the TTAG is therefore calling for a review of the pass mark to ensure that it is fair and balanced.
They believe that a lower pass mark will not compromise the quality of teaching in Ghana but will rather provide more opportunities for deserving individuals to enter the teaching profession.