The National Teaching Council (NTC) has officially integrated the Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination (GTLE) into the final-year academic assessments of Colleges of Education across the country, marking a major shift in how teacher certification is conducted in Ghana.
Under this new reform, teacher trainees will no longer sit for the GTLE as a separate post-graduation exam.
Instead, the licensure assessment will be embedded directly into their final-year evaluations, combining both theoretical and practical components of pedagogy.
New Pedagogy Scoring Structure
According to the NTC, the revised pedagogy assessment will be split as follows:
- 30% from supervised teaching practice
- 70% from the theoretical pedagogy paper
This blended model aims to ensure that teacher certification reflects not only academic knowledge but also real classroom competence.
Exams to Be Held in Training Institutions
In addition to the integrated format, candidates will now write the GTLE in their own colleges, eliminating the need to travel to external exam centres.
This change is expected to reduce logistical burdens and improve accessibility for teacher trainees.
Ministry of Education Sets Deadline
The reform follows a directive from the Ministry of Education, which has tasked the NTC with ending the current format of the GTLE by August 30, 2025.
Speaking to journalists, Education Minister Hon. Haruna Iddrisu emphasized the need for swift implementation:
“If there is a last opportunity for those who sat and couldn’t make it, that process should not travel beyond 30th August,” he stated.
The Minister further explained that the new model incorporates supervised practicum evaluations and structured mentorship programmes, ensuring that newly trained teachers demonstrate both theoretical understanding and practical teaching ability.
GTLE: A Pillar of Professional Standards
The GTLE remains a mandatory requirement for individuals seeking recognition as professional teachers in Ghana.
The NTC oversees the examination to uphold national teaching standards and ensure quality education delivery.
Calls for Reconsideration
Meanwhile, the former Education Minister,Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum has called on the government to reconsider its decision to phase out the standalone GTLE.
In a recent interview, Dr. Adutwum warned that the move could weaken efforts to maintain professional standards in the teaching profession.
“NDC piloted the Teacher Licensure Exams before we took over and made it a transitional scale programme. They are in power now. They have the authority. They want to change it; it is between them and the good people of Ghana,” he remarked.
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