Sunyani: Over 12,000 teachers in second-cycle institutions across the country do not possess the necessary professional teaching certificates, as disclosed by Mr. Francis Addae, the Director of Teacher Licensing at the National Teaching Council (NTC). He noted that a similar situation exists at the Basic School level, where more than 100,000 teachers also lack professional certificates, many of whom are graduates from other professions.
According to Ghana News Agency, these findings emerged from a recent compliance exercise conducted by the NTC. Mr. Addae expressed concern over the situation during a special matriculation ceremony at the CUG Main Campus in Fiapre, near Sunyani, where 75 students were admitted to pursue the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) programme. He encouraged non-professional teachers to enroll in the PGDE programme, emphasizing that the NTC would soon enforce measures to ensure that only professionally certified teachers remain in classrooms.
Mr. Addae highlighted the unique role of the Catholic University of Ghana (CUG) in this initiative, noting that it is the only private university selected to partner with the NTC for the PGDE programme. He commended Dr. Jacob A.N. Maabobr Kor for his significant contribution to the programme's successful launch and coordination at CUG.
The NTC's mandate is to regulate the teaching profession by ensuring that only qualified professionals are permitted to teach. Prof. Mathew Glover Addo, Vice Chancellor of CUG, revealed that the NTC provided details of 341 candidates for consideration, of which 75 were successfully enrolled. He emphasized the importance of this milestone in the university's history, reflecting a commitment to quality education and professional excellence.
Prof. Addo explained that the SPGDE initiative, backed by the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020, Act 1023, aims to train non-professional teachers and increase the number of qualified educators in rural areas. He encouraged the newly admitted students to be dedicated and disciplined as they embark on this strategic collaboration between CUG, the University of Ghana, and the NTC to enhance teacher professionalism and education quality in the country.