Look for a better approach to licensing teachers – Peter Nortsu-kotoe urges gov’t

Member of Parliament representing the Akatsi North Constituency in the Volta Region, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, says that the government must come with a better approach than relying on the Ghana Tertiary Licensure Exams for teachers.

This follows the failure of over eight thousand, four hundred and forty-two (8,442) teachers who sat for the mandatory examination.

Speaking to UniversNews, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe urged the government to review the current program and add the licensure exams to the teacher education curriculum.

"We are saying that suspend it, review it, and do what is a better approach to licensing teachers. We have said what we need to say; it is now left with those who are managing education in the country to see the wisdom in our proposal and see how best they can help this country".

In support of this, the National Coordinator for the Teacher Trainees Association of Ghana, Joshua Owusu Yeboah, highlighted that the exam is relevant, yet, it does not determine the intellect of these tutors in their profession.

"I am not against the profession, the cancellation or the suspension of it, but I am in for good measures to be put in place. Because trainees pass over fifty courses, so my take on these licensure exams is that this exam cannot determine whether a teacher is good or bad. This licensure exam is theory, but on the field, it's more practical than this theoretical work".

Joshua Yeboah encouraged the government to initiate these measures to resolve the issues surrounding the licensure examinations.

"The first thing I want the government to do is that they should include the licensure exams in the teachers' curriculum. Secondly, there should be a provision of course material. If the government take these into consideration, it will help solve the issue surrounding the teacher licensure exams."