By Lawrence Odoom
The National Teaching Council (NTC) has revealed that more than 42,000 teachers currently serving in Ghana’s basic and senior high schools lack the requisite professional qualifications, underscoring a significant gap in the nation’s educational standards.
Findings from a nationwide survey conducted by the Council show that approximately 12,279 teachers in Senior High Schools are teaching without professional certification, while over 30,000 others in basic schools remain similarly unqualified.
Addressing journalists in Kumasi during a matriculation ceremony for students enrolled in a Special Postgraduate Diploma in Education, the NTC’s Director of Licensing and Registration, Francis Addai, said the discovery has spurred the Council to launch an 18-week accelerated teacher education programme.
“We conducted a nationwide survey in Senior High Schools and discovered that about 12,279 teachers currently in classrooms do not possess professional qualifications. In basic schools, the number exceeds 30,000,” he said.
Mr. Addai explained that the initiative is being rolled out in collaboration with five universities: the University of Cape Coast, University of Education, Winneba, University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Valley View University, and the University for Development Studies.
The programme is designed to enable graduates already in the classroom to attain professional certification and obtain teaching licences in accordance with legal requirements.
“To address the situation, the NTC has partnered with five universities to roll out a fast-track Postgraduate Diploma in Education programme for graduates. The initiative will enable participants to obtain teaching licences from the NTC in line with legal requirements,” he added.
The inaugural cohort is already underway, with about 1,400 teachers enrolled and slated to complete their training in August this year. Registration for the second cohort will open in June, with classes commencing in September.
Mr. Addai noted that the programme has been heavily subsidised at a cost of GH₵5,000 for two semesters, describing it as “the shortest and most affordable route for teachers seeking professional status.”
He further cautioned that under existing regulations, teachers without professional qualifications and licences cannot continue to remain in the teaching service.
The intervention is being implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education as part of broader efforts to elevate teaching standards and ensure quality education delivery nationwide.