NTC explains subject change in 2023/2024 teacher licensure exam

The National Teaching Council (NTC) has explained the replacement of new subjects with the previous Literacy, Numeracy and Essential skills used to be written by candidates in the Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination (GTLE).

An official of NTC in a discussion with AcademicWeek said his outfit from this academic year will conduct the teacher licensure examination on subject-based, hence the introduction of the new subjects in the 2023 GTLE timetable.

In a related development, the leadership of the Teacher Trainees Association of Ghana (TTAG) has appealed to the National Teaching Council to halt the increment of the GTLE pass mark from the current 50 per cent to 70 per cent.

In a statement shared with AcademicWeek, the Trainees Association said it has appealed to the Minister for Education and other relevant stakeholders to intervene and negotiate with the Ghana Teaching Council on the exam pass mark.

“In light of the reform in the GTLE pass mark, the leadership has appealed to the Minister for Education to initiate a dialogue with NTC regarding the possibility of revisiting the decision to increase the pass mark from 50% to 70%,” TTAG said.

The Teachers’ petition comes after the NTC following a reform of the Ghana teacher licensure examination said the new pass mark for the national examination for pre-service teachers from tertiary education institutions is 70 per cent.

Registrar of the Council, Christian Addai-Poku in a discussion monitored by AcademicWeek said his outfit this academic year will replace the traditional GTLE which had 50% as a pass mark with the reformed licensure examination.

“Per the policy that is yet to be finally approved, the pass mark for the reformed Ghana teacher licensure examination (GTLE) is 70 per cent. The current pass mark is 50 per cent but the one they are going to write will be 70%,” he noted.

The increase in the GTLE pass mark from 50% to 70% comes after Deputy Director for Ghana TVET Service, Mr David Prah told the management of the National Teaching Council that the pass mark for the licensure examination is low.

Speaking at a meeting to discuss the quality and trend analysis of the Ghana teacher licensure examination and teacher professionalism and practice, the Deputy Director for TVET Service said the pass mark for the GTLE is low.

Mr David Prah in his submission said the 50% pass mark is equal to 50% of the teachers licensed to teach hence the need for the National Teaching Council (NTC) to increase the pass mark for the Ghana teacher licensure examination.

“The pass rate and percentage for passing I believe is suspect and questionable. 50% for a teacher to step into a classroom, meaning that he has a 50% deficit which is disastrous and needs to be revised,” the TVET Director said.