The National Teaching Council has warned that teachers who fail to obtain professional qualifications and licences by the end of 2026 could face disciplinary action from the Ghana Education Service.
According to the Council, all teachers currently teaching without professional certification are expected to take advantage of the ongoing fast-track teacher education programme introduced to regularise their status and ensure compliance with national teaching standards.
Speaking on Channel One Newsroom on Sunday, May 10, Director in charge of Licensing and Registration at the NTC, Francis Addai, said the Council is determined to complete the programme for all enrolled teachers before the end of the year.
“We want to run this programme by the end of this year. The first cohort is completing in August, the second cohort will start in September and also complete in December, so we entreat all of them to join and become professional teachers,” he stated.
Mr Addai cautioned that teachers who fail to obtain the required licence may not be allowed to continue working under the GES.
“Else we will write to the employer, that is GES, and a decision will be taken on them. They need a licence to teach; therefore, they cannot remain as non-professional teachers and remain in the GES,” he added.
The warning follows the NTC’s revelation that more than 42,000 teachers across Ghana’s basic and senior high schools currently do not possess professional teaching qualifications.
A nationwide assessment conducted by the Council identified approximately 12,279 unqualified teachers in Senior High Schools and more than 30,000 at the basic school level.
According to Mr Addai, the Ashanti Region recorded the highest number of unqualified teachers, with figures nearing 4,000. The region was followed by Greater Accra Region and Eastern Region.
To address the challenge, the NTC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education Ghana and five universities, has introduced an 18-week fast-track Postgraduate Diploma in Education programme.
The institutions supporting the initiative include the University of Cape Coast, University of Education Winneba, University for Development Studies, Valley View University, and the University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development.
The programme is intended to help graduate teachers without professional training secure certification and teaching licences as required under Ghana’s educational regulations.
The first batch of approximately 1,400 teachers is expected to complete training in August, while registration for the second cohort is expected to begin in June ahead of classes in September.
The NTC says the programme has been heavily subsidised to make it affordable for teachers nationwide, with participants expected to pay GH₵5,000 for two semesters of study.
Education stakeholders say the initiative is a major step toward improving professionalism and standards within Ghana’s education sector while ensuring that all learners are taught by qualified and licensed educators.
Source: Wesleyannews.com
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