Senior Programme Officer of Africa Education Watch (EduWatch) Divine Kpeh has stressed the need for a reform of the teacher licensure examination.
This is in response to Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama’s pledge to cancel the licensure examination, contending that subjecting teacher trainees to an additional assessment for qualification is unnecessary.
The Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination was implemented to ensure that education in Ghana maintains high-quality standards and promotes professionalism among teachers.
In an interview on Campus Exclusive, Mr. Kpeh proposed that instead of written examinations, teacher licensing assessments should focus on key teaching skills. He believes that written examinations do not accurately measure a teacher’s classroom competency.
“With this current form, I do not think we are getting the best out of it. What potential teachers are been assessed on thus numeracy and literacy skills I don’t think that should be the focus. Any form of assessment that will lead to licensing of teachers should be based on key teaching skills like classroom management, content knowledge, knowledge on teaching standards, pedagogical skills. These are practical issues that we need to assess them on.”
He suggested new forms of assessment for the teachers to ensure that they have the skills that have been mentioned above.
“Rather than have them write exams, we need to make them demonstrate these skills. There is a need to reform and take up new measures of assessment other than sitting to write exams which does not test their competency when it comes to the skills they need in the classroom.”
Mr. Kpeh however opposed the proposal put forward by the Former President to abolish the licensure exams for teacher trainees. He expressed dissatisfaction with Mahama’s statement, explaining that should the examinations be scraped off, another alternative should be provided .
“We should stop politicizing educational issues. Resounding alternatives should be provided .With regards to Mahama’s statement I would love to hear more about what he will do to replace this examinations . It is quite vague to say you will cancel it . . Judging from his comment, it is obvious that he does not have plans of reviewing the examination. “
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Story by: Michelle Lartey | univers.ug.edu.gh
