Former President John Mahama's decision to cancel the teacher licensure examination has been described as sensible and justified by Dr. Clement Apaak, the Deputy Ranking Member of the Education Committee of Parliament. Dr. Apaak states that once Mr. Mahama assumes office as President, this proposal will be implemented. The National Democratic
Congress (NDC) flagbearer's idea is highly commendable as it allows teacher trainees who have successfully completed all courses, including the certification course, to be immediately assigned to classrooms without the need for a year of national service or paying fees for licensure exams
Dr. Apaak, the Builsa South lawmaker, elaborates on the proposal, stating that it enables the certification of teacher trainees as professional teachers and their prompt deployment to classrooms where they are most needed. This process is not only cost- effective but also simplified yet rigorous. The Member of Parliament highlights that all stakeholders in Ghana's education sector support the reevaluation of the Free SHS program and the discontinuation of the teacher licensure examination.
In response to Deputy Minister of Education Mr. John Ntim Fordjour's criticism of the former president, Mahama, being labeled as the biggest threat to Ghana's progress, Dr. Apaak argues that Mr. Fordjour and his government either lack an understanding of public sentiment or are disconnected from reality. He reiterates his endorsement of Mahama's proposed education policy reforms, emphasizing the necessity of a comprehensive review to address the challenges faced within the education sector.
Read His Full Statement:
JM's Promises To Review fSHS and To Cancel Teacher Licensure Examination Make Sense
Every stakeholder in education in Ghana is in favour of reviewing the fSHS programme and the cancellation of the Teacher Licensure examination, but NADAA, DMB, Hon. Fordjour and the NPP gov't. The promises made by JM are commonsensical, justified and will be implemented when he takes over as President. Hon. Fordjour and the NPP gov't are either out of touch with reality or haven't followed public sentiments.
If JM has plans to cancel fSHS he wouldn't be planning to invite stakeholders to a national forum to discuss fSHS. JM has on several occasions said that fSHS has come to stay. Like most Ghanaians however, he is concerned about the well documented implementation challenges and how to address them to make the fSHS better for national good.
Ghanaians of all walks of life are calling for a review of the fSHS policy, which has been implemented for over six years, and JM will honour this call because the fSHS programme is challenged by: erratic academic calendar; inadequate and unwholesome food; inadequate academic and residential space; overworked teaching and non-teaching staff amongst others. Equally, JM's proposed forum on fSHS will also consider the role of PTA's and private secondary schools in the delivery of the policy.
JM is not opposed to examining teachers as a basis of certifying them as professionals. However, like teacher trainees and stakeholders in teacher training, JM is opposed to the current arrangement towards certification. His reasonable alternative is to make the examination towards professional certification a final year compulsory course to be written alongside other final year courses.
In JM's variant, when a teacher trainee passes all final year courses, including the course tailored to certify a trainee as a professional teacher, the trainee is given a license. If the trainee passes all courses but fails the certification course, he/she doesn't get a license and would have to re- register the course and write it in his/her college as is the case with final year compulsory courses.
This mode of teacher certification in addition to JM's promise to cancel the one- year compulsory national service, which is currently an additional requirement for appointment as a teacher by the Ghana Education Service, has additional advantages
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