The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has strongly criticised John Mahama’s recent plan to do away with licensure tests for teacher candidates, pointing out the exams’ vital role in guaranteeing the competency and calibre of future educators.
During his ‘Building Ghana Tour’ in the Bono Region, the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama, pledged to scrap the licensure exams, arguing that subjecting teacher trainees to an additional assessment for qualification is unnecessary.
However, CETAG has taken a strong stance against Mahama’s proposal, emphasizing the unique nature of teacher training and the profound impact that educators can have on future generations. Prince Obeng Himah, the President of CETAG, highlighted the importance of the licensure exams in an interview with Citi News.
“In my opinion, it is something that is good and it shouldn’t be cancelled. That is CETAG; we have stated that we should implement what we agreed two years ago when we had a conference that the students wanting to enter the teaching profession should be subjected to entrance exams,” said President Obeng Himah.
CETAG contends that the licensure exams are a necessary step to guaranteeing the competence and quality of future teaching professionals. The association argues that the distinct nature of teacher training, compared to other professions, justifies the retention of these exams.