Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, has called on the National Teaching Council (NTC) to provide one final resit opportunity for teacher trainees who are unable to pass the ongoing Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination (GTLE).
Speaking to journalists during a visit to one of the exam centres at Accra High School on Friday, July 18, Mr Iddrisu revealed that over 37,000 candidates are taking part in the exercise, including 5,000 resit candidates. He noted that many of the participants had completed school before the current administration took office, and therefore deserve another chance.
“37,000 are taking part in this exercise, 5,000 are resit, and of the 32,000, they probably left school even before the new government took over the annals of power,” he said.
“I trust that the National Teachers Council will, before the end of August as was announced, give this cohort another opportunity for a resit,” the Minister added.
Mr Iddrisu reiterated government’s commitment to equipping teachers with the necessary professional skills, stating, “It’s important that we build the capacity of our teachers and, more importantly, their professional capacity. That’s why continuous assessment and development is an integral part even of their collective bargaining agreement.”
He also acknowledged the psychological pressure that examinations can pose and encouraged candidates to stay focused.
READ: Licensure reform won’t compromise teacher quality – Haruna Iddrisu assures
“There are persons who are never emotionally and psychologically prepared or ready for exams, but they can be the most brilliant of students. So ours is to encourage them, to wish them well.”
His remarks form part of the government’s broader reforms to phase out the standalone licensure exam and integrate it into the final academic assessments in colleges of education and universities across the country.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
