The National Teaching Council (NTC) has rolled out significant reforms to the Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination (GTLE), aimed at streamlining the process and aligning it more closely with teacher training programmes. The new measures, which replace the previous system, will impact the timing of the examination, the selection of examination centres, and the structure of the practical component.
Under the old arrangement, candidates were required to write the GTLE one year after completing their training, a policy that has now been scrapped. According to the NTC, the examination will henceforth be integrated into the final year assessments of teacher training institutions.
This reform, the Council explains, is designed to reduce delays in the certification process and ensure a seamless transition from training to professional practice.
Another major change affects the selection of examination centres. Previously, candidates were barred from taking the GTLE in their own colleges or training institutions. This restriction has been lifted, and candidates will now be allowed to sit for the examination in the very institutions where they underwent their training. The NTC believes this will make the process more convenient and less financially burdensome for candidates.
The reforms also introduce a stronger emphasis on practical teaching skills. In the past, pedagogy scores were based solely on theoretical questions, with no assessment of actual teaching practice. Under the new structure, practical teaching will account for 30% of the total pedagogy score, with the remaining 70% derived from the theoretical pedagogy paper. This shift, the NTC states, is intended to ensure that teacher candidates are not only knowledgeable in theory but also competent in real classroom situations.
“These reforms mark a turning point in teacher professional development in Ghana,” the NTC said in its announcement. “By integrating the GTLE into final year examinations, decentralising examination centres, and including a practical component, we are building a more robust, relevant, and competency-based teacher assessment framework.”
The Council has assured stakeholders that the changes will be implemented in close collaboration with teacher training institutions and will take effect for upcoming examination cycles.
For further information, the public is encouraged to visit the NTC website or contact its offices through the provided communication channels.
