The National Teaching Council (NTC) has disclosed that upwards of 42,000 teachers currently employed in Ghana’s basic and senior high schools lack the necessary professional qualifications.
A comprehensive nationwide survey conducted by the Council highlighted a significant gap in certification, revealing that approximately 12,279 teachers in senior high schools are unqualified, alongside more than 30,000 individuals teaching in basic schools without professional accreditation.
During a matriculation ceremony in Kumasi for students enrolled in a Special Postgraduate Diploma in Education, Francis Addai, the NTC Director in charge of Licensing and Registration, explained that these findings have prompted the Council to launch an 18-week fast-track teacher education programme.
Addressing the media, he remarked, “We conducted a nationwide survey in Senior High Schools and discovered that about 12,279 teachers currently in classrooms do not possess professional qualifications. In basic schools, the number exceeds 30,000.”
The remedial initiative is being organised through a partnership involving the University of Cape Coast, the University of Education, Winneba, the University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Valley View University, and the University for Development Studies.
Mr Addai emphasised that this scheme is designed to help graduates who are already working in the classroom to secure the professional certification and teaching licences mandated by law.
He further noted, “To address the situation, the NTC has partnered with five universities to roll out a fast-track Postgraduate Diploma in Education programme for graduates. The initiative will enable participants to obtain teaching licences from the NTC in line with legal requirements.”
The first intake of the programme is currently in progress, with roughly 1,400 teachers expected to finish their training by August this year.
Registration for the subsequent cohort is slated to open in June, with academic activities beginning in September. Mr Addai highlighted that the course has been significantly subsidised, costing GH¢5,000 for two semesters, which he characterised as the most efficient and cost-effective path for teachers aiming to achieve professional status.
However, a stern warning was issued regarding the future of uncertified staff.
Mr Addai clarified that current regulations prohibit teachers without the proper professional qualifications and licences from remaining in the teaching service.
This initiative, supported by the Ministry of Education, forms a core part of the broader national strategy to enhance teaching standards across the country.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana