National Teaching Council reveals 12,279 teachers lack proper certification, warns of intensified enforcement

This information was revealed by Francis Addae, NTC Director in charge of Teacher Licensing, during a matriculation ceremony for the Postgraduate Diploma in Education PGDE program at the Catholic University of Ghana CUG. The NTC plans to intensify enforcement to address the issue, warning that over 100,000 non-professional teachers in basic and private schools could face removal if they do not regularize their status. Addae stated that a recent compliance audit in second-cycle institutions identified 12,279 graduate teachers instructing students without mandatory professional teaching certificates.

To prevent a mass purge, the NTC is encouraging uncertified educators to enroll in the subsidized PGDE program, which has reduced fees from GH¢8,000–GH¢9,000 to GH¢5,000, with flexible installment options. Additionally, female teachers aged 35 and below can receive financial assistance through the Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project GALOP. Despite over 12,000 non-professional graduate teachers being identified at the Senior High School level, only 1,421 are currently enrolled in the remedial certification course nationwide.

Professor Daniels Obeng-Ofori, CUG Vice-Chancellor, emphasized the noble vocation of teaching at the same event.