Some aggrieved teachers in the Volta Region have called on the government through the Ministry of Education to incorporate the teachers' licensure examinations into the teacher preparatory programme.

The group asserted that this would enable the teaching trainees to get abreast with the licensure examination policy introduced some years ago.

Addressing the media in Ho, the group’s Convener, Mathias Tulasi lamented the lack of preparation for the examination and advocated for the provision of enough resources to help trainees adequately prepare for the examination that gives them the green light to become full-fledged teachers.

“While the examination aims to evaluate the teaching competence of graduates, the current system falls short in the provision of comprehensive guidance and support to adequately prepare the graduate teachers coupled with limited availability of relevant study materials, practice tests, and coaching programs for the graduates to fully grasp the exam’s requirements”, he said.

He was also of the view that if the licensure examination policy would not be incorporated, then it should be abolished entirely, as proposed by the Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress, John Dramani Mahama.

Mr. Tulasi based his argument on the premise that teachers have gone through enough training during the study of their various programmes to prepare them adequately for the classroom.

“After studying courses such as educational technology, curriculum, principles and practice of teaching, measurement and evaluation, instructional methodology, guidance and counseling, modern trends in education, and other educational subjects, the leaders of this country claim that such graduates are not qualified to enter the teaching profession.

In addition to these courses, these graduates participate in on-campus teaching practice, off-campus teaching practice (internship), and engage in project works (research) before receiving their certificates and are obligated to undergo one year of mandatory national service.

If all of these endeavors are insufficient to qualify these graduates for teaching positions, and only some few hours examination can validate their eligibility, then……?” he quizzed.

He condemned statements by some stakeholders who have “okayed” the licensure examinations and commented on the abysmal performance of teachers in the examination.

He, therefore, called for reforms in the mode of teacher Licensing to ensure it benefits both graduate teachers and the education system.

“For the fact that the burdensome nature of the examination, inadequate preparation, limited assessment of practical teaching skills, and the implications it has on employment opportunities call for urgent reforms and hence the need to cancel it and incorporate it in the teacher preparatory program. In this regard, we affirm H.E John Mahama's position on its cancellation but incorporation in the teacher preparatory program,” he concluded.