_Government raises the standards of basic schools teachers_.
As part of broader educational reforms, government has rolled out an educational transformational mechanism by raising the entry requirements for basic schools teachers so that they are equivalent to those in other professions.
"From October this year, all new entrants to the teaching profession will require to study Bachelors of Education degree offered by Colleges of Education, initially in affiliation to *UCC* and with other public universities after one year of implementation"
"It is important to note that these changes in teacher education reforms are just one element in the government education reforms strategy. Alongside the new Bachelor's of Education degree, there will be a new Basic Education Curriculum in Ghana's Schools.
The curriculum offered in these Colleges of Education will represent a significant departure from previous practice."
_Mr Robbin Todd, Team Leader of Transforming Teacher Education and Learning (T-TEL) programme disclosed at the T TEL Challenge Fund End of Project Learning event at Koforidua, Eastern Regional Capital._
The five public universities to be affiliated to the programme are University of Ghana ( *LEG, Accra*), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology ( *KNUST, Kumasi*), University of Cape Coast *(UCC)*, University of Education ( *UEW, Winneba*),and University for Development Studies *(UDS, Tamale*).
He, Mr Todd, said the Universities have designed the new Bachelors of Education degree aligned with the National Teachers' Standards ( *NTS*) and the National Teacher Education Curriculum Framework ( *NTECF*) and have submitted these to the National Accreditation Board ( *NAB*) for certification.
He insinuated that aligning the new curriculum with Standards will ensure that we train the teachers which Ghana needs to deliver world class education system.
That notwithstanding, the curriculum will be very practically focused with thirty percent ( *30%*) of the total assessment marks being practical assessment of teaching ability and will focus on ensuring that teachers are confident in the use of learner centred approaches to encourage critical thinking and problem solving.
Also, teaching practice in schools will play a central part in the learning process with student teachers spending time in partner schools in years one, two, three and four, not just in year three as in the case with the current *DBE*.
"Once student teachers have completed their Four (4) Year Bachelor of Education degree in Basic Education, they will then spend one year teaching in basic schools, employed by Ghana Education Service before they will receive their licence to practice and achieve qualified teacher status"
This licence is important because it provides an independent validation that each teacher has the practical skills and capabilities to meet the National Teachers' Standards. An assessment across the three domains of effective teaching which are *Professional Values and Attitudes,* *Knowledge, and Practice,"* he stated.
Licensing will be practically focused. It will involve observation of the teacher in the classroom and an assessment of their *professional portfolio, lesson plans, and other necessary documents.*
Licensing is not something that should be feared by any aspiring young teacher. It should be embraced with confidence as it provides the validation that one has met the standards of a professional teacher.
He said T-TEL and the government have been working with National Council for Tertiary Education ( *NCTE*) to support all the forty-six (46) *COE* to transform teacher education and learning.
T-TEL shall provide support to all colleges to enable them upgrade the qualifications of their tutors to meet the minimum requirements of the NCTE, support shall continue to be given to colleges to achieve their organisational objectives and developmental plans through a Payment By Results ( *PBR* ) approach, providing funding for colleges to use as they see fit to improve their infrastructure and learning environment.
Strengthened partnership is being sought between Schools and Colleges guided by a new School Partnership Policy to ensure that experienced teachers are effectively monitoring student teachers in line with the *NTS*
T-TEL has also pledged to support the Colleges and Universities over the coming years to ensure the provision of continuous Professional development to lecturers of the new curriculum and deliver it effectively.
Meanwhile, he paid tribute to the magnanimous roles being played by *UCC* in building capacity and capability in *COE*.
*Finally, if Ghana achieves these reforms, it will stand as a beacon of hope to all Africa that genuine change in teacher education is possible.*
Long live Teacher Trainees.
Long live people in the the Education Sector.
Long live Mother Ghana.
I'm proud to be a teacher trainee.
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