The Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination, which was implemented to guarantee high standards of instruction and professionalism in the teaching profession, has come under fire for harming newly graduated teachers. Despite having the best of intentions, the examination is currently more detrimental than beneficial.
The shortcomings and difficulties of the license examination are critically examined in this essay, which also emphasizes the need for reform to better serve the needs of aspirant teachers and the educational system as a whole.
The Cost of the Examination for Licensure
The heavy burden the Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination places on newly graduated teachers is one of its main problems. Graduates who have spent years studying and finishing their degree programs must pass this test in order to be granted a teaching license.
However, many qualified candidates find it to be an overwhelming challenge due to the rigid framework, high level of difficulty, and lack of suitable preparation tools. This pressure is made even greater by the fact that failing the exam has serious consequences, such as less job opportunities and a delay in beginning their teaching careers.
Inadequate planning
The shortcomings and difficulties of the license examination are critically examined in this essay, which also emphasizes the need for reform to better serve the needs of aspirant teachers and the educational system as a whole.
The Cost of the Examination for Licensure
The heavy burden the Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination places on newly graduated teachers is one of its main problems. Graduates who have spent years studying and finishing their degree programs must pass this test in order to be granted a teaching license.
However, many qualified candidates find it to be an overwhelming challenge due to the rigid framework, high level of difficulty, and lack of suitable preparation tools. This pressure is made even greater by the fact that failing the exam has serious consequences, such as less job opportunities and a delay in beginning their teaching careers.
inadequate planning
Lack of adequate preparation for potential teachers is another evident issue with the license exam. Although the examination intends to assess applicants’ ability to teach, the existing system falls short in offering thorough instruction and support to properly prepare them. Graduates struggle to properly understand the exam’s criteria due to the scarcity of pertinent study guides, mock exams, and coaching programs. This deficiency frequently causes a mismatch between the knowledge students have learned throughout their academic careers and the particular areas that are evaluated in the exam.
Limited evaluation of teaching abilities in practice
The evaluation of critical practical teaching skills is largely disregarded in the Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination in favor of an emphasis on theoretical knowledge. Teaching is a talent that calls for not only subject-matter expertise but also successful instructional strategies, classroom management skills, and interpersonal aptitudes. The exam misses out on important parts of teaching that have a direct bearing on the standard of education given to pupils by placing too much emphasis on rote memorization and theoretical notions. As a result of their failure to demonstrate their actual teaching skills, many outstanding and enthusiastic graduate instructors are deterred from entering the profession.
Effects on the Employment of Teachers
The effects of the licensure examination go beyond the actual evaluation process. The exam outcomes have a significant impact on graduate instructors’ employment chances, which increases competition and reduces job opportunities. This leads to an unfair hiring process because eligible people may be rejected based on an artificial threshold score, without taking into account their total potential and commitment to teaching. As a result, this deters would-be teachers and adds to the nation’s already grave teacher shortage problem.
Reform Is Needed
A thorough overhaul is necessary to guarantee that the Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination actually achieves its goals and benefits graduating teachers as well as the educational system. To effectively prepare applicants, reforms should include the provision of thorough study guides, mock exams, and coaching programs. Additionally, the test should be enhanced to evaluate actual teaching techniques and methods, giving candidates for teaching a more complete assessment of their talents. In addition, rather than relying exclusively on a strict cutoff score, a fair and open grading system that takes into account candidates’ entire performance and potential should be used.
Conclusion
Even though the Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination was created with the goal of assuring high-quality instruction, it has turned out to be more harmful than helpful for newly graduated teachers. There is an urgent need for reform due to the demanding nature of the exam, inadequate preparation, the restricted assessment of actual teaching skills, and the effects it has on employment chances. To ensure a brighter future for both aspiring teachers and Ghana’s educational system as a whole, it is critical to develop an assessment system that accurately identifies and supports qualified and enthusiastic teachers.
Source: Collins Koranteng, collinskoranteng67@gmail.com
