NTC advises graduate teachers to seek alternative careers if licensure exams are unsuccessful

Dr. Christian Addai-Poku, the Registrar of the Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination, has emphasized that graduates unable to pass the licensure exam must explore alternative career paths outside of teaching.

During a media briefing on Tuesday, Dr. Christian Addai revealed that only 16.5% of candidates successfully passed the recently concluded licensure exams.

He further stated that the National Teaching Council (NTC) is committed to ensuring that the teaching profession maintains a high standard by retaining individuals of the right caliber in classrooms across the country.

“While this outcome is a concern for the entire nation, we must prioritize the presence of qualified individuals in our classrooms and cannot compromise on quality,” stated Dr. Christian Addai. “I want to highlight that the most recent examination was exclusively for re-sitters, some of whom have attempted the exam five times, eight times, or even 10 times without success.”

Dr. Christian Addai continued, “Consequently, we are currently phasing out the traditional Ghana Teacher Licensure examination and introducing a reformed version.

As part of these reforms, we decided that fresh candidates would not be required to write this licensure examination. Therefore, we limited it exclusively to re-sitters, approximately 7,000 individuals who have attempted the exams and failed repeatedly.

Unfortunately, the results have not deviated from previous records, indicating their continued inability to pass.”

The Registrar emphasized that some individuals may not possess the aptitude for teaching and should explore other areas where their skills are better suited.

He added, “While they might excel in other fields, they might not possess the necessary skills for effective teaching. In such cases, redirecting their efforts to alternative areas would be advisable. Otherwise, they would need to demonstrate significant improvement to prove their suitability for the teaching profession.”

Dr. Christian Addai also shared details about the upcoming licensure exams, stating that the next session, scheduled for November, would be exclusively for re-sitters.

“There are two options available to them. They have one final opportunity to write the exam in November, which will be the last chance for the traditional licensure examination. If they are unable to pass, there is still an alternative open to them,” explained the Registrar.

He further elaborated, “Starting in 2024, individuals who already hold a degree can register under the new system and write the exam.

It is important to note that, from 2024 onwards, a degree will be the minimum qualification required to teach in Ghana. Without a degree, individuals will not be eligible to sit for the Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination.”