Licensure exams shouldn’t be cancelled, the approach must change – Tutors

Some tutors in the country’s colleges of education say the conduct of the Teacher Licensure Exams has never been a problem to them, but the method of writing the papers.

Former President John Mahama says he does not understand why after several examinations, teacher trainees would have to take a licensure exams before being allowed to practice.

He has thus promised to scrap the exams when the NDC returns to office after the 2024 election.

A tutor at the Akrokeri College of Education, George Ohene Bekye, believes “the licensure examination as a whole is not a problem, but the method and mode of writing it are problematic.”

Speaking to Nhyira FM’s Nana Jantuah on Kuro Yi Mu Nsem, George said the licensure document has raised the status of Ghanaian teachers and empowers them to take up opportunities abroad.

“Because of the licensure exams, teachers teaching abroad have had their statuses boosted. At first, the international bodies didn’t recognize teachers from Ghana. So, this exam has really helped us so much,” he noted.

He wants the former president to engage the teacher unions and the National Teaching Council to address the challenges with the current system instead of outright cancellation.

Executive Member of the Coalition for Concerned Teachers, George Acquah, also believes the licensure exam should rather be part of the main examination the teachers write instead of making it a standalone exam.

“The examination for issuing license is not a bad idea, but the argument is that, why is the exam not part of the students’ final exams to get them well prepared to avoid mass failure?” he questioned.

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