By Issah Olegor
President John Mahama’s campaign pledge to abolish the teacher licensure examination is taking decisive shape as the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, commissions a National Teaching Council (NTC) Committee to develop a new framework for teacher qualification assessment.
The move is a fulfillment of a key 2024 National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto promise, which, according to party figures, was grounded in concerns over the effectiveness and fairness of the existing licensure exams.
Speaking during the inauguration of the committee, Iddrisu affirmed government’s commitment to this pledge, but emphasized the need for professional advice to guide the transition.
“Yes, it’s true the NDC campaigned on the manifesto promise—we will end licensure exams. We did, and we will keep faith with the electorate. But I need professional advice on this matter.”
“That is why I’m putting this committee together to advise, most appropriately, how to work through the transition. A transition from a licensure exam regime to a no-licensure-exams regime,” he stated.
The Education Minister elaborated that the goal is to shift towards a system that integrates academic performance and practical fieldwork during teacher training, embedding evaluation within the training period itself rather than relying on post-graduation standardized testing.
“In our manifesto again, it was our pledge to incorporate it into the curriculum of teacher training institutions… that it becomes part of their curriculum,” he explained.
Final Chance for Past Candidates
Iddrisu further proposed that the committee consider a final opportunity for candidates who previously failed the licensure exam to reattempt it before the full phase-out.
“With further advice, I want to say that one last opportunity of a resit of the licensure exams for those who couldn’t make it the last time must also be part of your recommendations. What do we do? Do we offer them an opportunity of a resit?” he queried, signaling sensitivity to those caught midway through the reforms.
The National Teaching Council is expected to present a comprehensive proposal outlining the roadmap for this transition, including interim measures to accommodate affected teacher trainees.
Background
The teacher licensure examination was introduced in 2018 as part of efforts to professionalize teaching and ensure quality in Ghana’s education system.
However, it soon became a subject of heated debate, with many education stakeholders—including students, unions, and political groups—arguing that the exams added undue pressure without necessarily guaranteeing teaching excellence.
Critics, including Dr. Clement Apaak, Member of Parliament for Builsa South and now the Deputy Minister for Education, maintained that licensing should occur during training, not after.
Speaking earlier this year, Dr. Apaak emphasized: “Our position has not changed as far as cancelling the licensure exams is concerned. We don’t believe it is the best option in terms of licensing teachers. It is not by writing an exam, and so the deficiencies ought to be looked at within the proven processes, and the licensing process must also take place within the training period that the young teachers are still in school and not after.”
His remarks came in response to the National Teaching Council’s decision to offer a resit opportunity to over 8,000 teacher trainees who failed the 2023 licensure examination.
Out of more than 20,000 participants, 8,000 candidates fell below the pass mark—further fueling concerns that the exam system may be unjustly limiting qualified teachers.
