Ghana Scraps Teacher Licensure Exams: A New Era in Education Begins

1. A historic pivot in policy

In April 2025, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu formally commissioned a National Teaching Council (NTC) committee to dismantle the current system of standardized licensure exams for teachersThis move honors President John Mahama’s 2024 campaign pledge to abolish these exams—seen by many as a barrier that burdens teachers.

Minister Iddrisu emphasized preparing a “transition” toward a framework that “places greater emphasis on academic training and practical fieldwork rather than standardized licensure examinations”

 2. Transition strategy and timeline

To ensure fairness, Iddrisu instructed the NTC to offer one final opportunity for candidates to sit existing licensure exams—with the mandate to wrap up by August 30, 2025. Following that, the current licensure regime will be phased out, making way for continuous professional evaluation rooted in real-world classroom experience.

 3. Community responses: hope and concern

Stakeholders have voiced varied reactions:

• Teacher Trainees’ Association of Ghana (TTAG) welcomed the reforms, noting a misalignment between B.Ed. programs and licensure exam content.
• The Coalition of Concern Teachers (CCT) called the exams irrelevant after training, advocating for their integration during teacher education instead
• Conversely, critics like former MP Fuseini Issah argue that scrapping exams risks undermining professional standards—comparing teaching to other regulated professions

 4. Why structured assessment matters

1. Maintaining professionalism: Exams are seen as a gatekeeper ensuring teachers possess essential foundational knowledge—much like in law or medicine 
2. Relieving testing stress: Supporters of the reform highlight the emotional toll of licensure retakes and advocate for learning-embedded assessments 
3. Aligning curriculum and evaluation: Moving exams into the academic program aims to reduce redundancy and make evaluations more relevant and practical .

 5. Global echoes & future outlook

International trends reveal a growing shift: countries and even states like North Carolina and Nebraska are revising or reducing reliance on high-stakes testing to respond to teacher shortages

In Ghana, the challenge will be designing a robust, in-program assessment framework that:

• Incorporates practical teaching skills
• Reduces undue burden and costs
• Ensures trainee competence before classroom entry

 6. Final thoughts

A welcome evolution—or a risk to standards?
On one hand, this reform prioritizes practical, real-world training and reduces redundant pressure on trainees. On the other, there’s concern that without standardized licensure exams, professional benchmarks might erode.

The success of this bold move hinges on the design of the new framework: it must uphold high educational standards while being fair, transparent, and reflective of classroom realities.

What to watch next:

• May–August 2025: Final licensure exam sitting, per the Ministry’s schedule.
• NTC Report: Recommendations from the transition committee on alternatives.
• Implementation Roll‑out: Introduction of the new assessment framework and its integration into teacher training colleges.

This marks a pivotal moment for Ghana’s teacher education landscape. Let me know if you'd like further analysis on potential models or international best practices!