Diploma in Basic Education Certificates Gradually Fading Out in GES System

There is an overwhelming number of teachers with Diploma in Basic Education Certificates (DBE) doing their undergraduate programmes of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and the University of Education, Winneba (UEW).

Last year alone, the number of diploma teachers who qualified for admission into the University of Cape Coast newly introduced one-year top-up programme runs into tens of thousands across their study centres nationwide.

When I visited the University of Cape Coast's three- semester admission portal, the number of students who had enrolled was more than twenty thousand and counting. What this means is that, in the next five years, the number of teachers with diploma certificates is going to dwindle drastically whereas those with degree experiences a gigantic spike.

Although this is good news for the Ghana Education Service because its outfit is going to benefit from high knowledge expertise and subject specialization, the other side of the coin is that, teacher upgrade will be a major challenge to them. Why do I say this? As we speak, teacher promotion and upgrade seems to pose a critical challenge to the Ghana Education Service in time past? Many teachers have been promoted and others upgraded to a higher rank, but their money is in arrears.

Aside that, teachers with diploma certificates are under spotlight to enroll in either sandwich, distance or regular programmes of the UCC, UEW or even the Valley View University for undergraduate studies. Although one can decide to pursue undergraduate programmes or not depending on the individual teacher, it is the Ministry of Education agenda under the previous sector minister to upgrade as many teachers as possible to degree status.

Furthermore, now that the forty-six public Colleges of Education (CoE) are offering only degree programmes, diploma certificates in the profession is gradually fading out just like it used to be for Cert 'A' teachers some time ago.

By BricyBoateng (Self-Media Writer)