37,000 Candidates Sit for Teacher Licensure Exams Today as Government Prepares Phase-Out

A total of 37,000 applicants across Ghana are sitting for the Teacher Licensure Examination today, Friday, July 18, 2025, marking what could be one of the final sessions under the current licensure regime.

According to the National Teaching Council (NTC), about 5,000 of the candidates are re-sitters, while the remaining 32,000 are first-time applicants. The two-hour exam is taking place at various centres nationwide.

At the Accra High School, 600 applicants are taking part in the exercise. TV3’s George Kwaning reported that Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu was present at the centre to observe proceedings. He is expected to visit additional exam centres later in the day.

Speaking to the media on July 15, Mr. Iddrisu reaffirmed that this will be the final round of licensure exams under the current framework. He stated that all outstanding resit opportunities must conclude by August 30, 2025, after which a new teacher qualification model will take effect.

“If there is a last opportunity for those who sat and couldn’t make it, that process should not travel beyond 30th August,” he emphasized.

The Education Minister commended the review committee for developing a new framework that focuses on practical classroom experience, academic grounding, and structured mentorship, rather than a purely standardized exam format.

“This new model will guide the teacher licensure exam beyond solely paper-based assessments,” he noted.
“It incorporates supervised practicum evaluations and structured mentorship programmes, ensuring that newly trained teachers demonstrate not just theoretical knowledge but actual classroom competence.”

The reforms are aimed at enhancing teacher quality and aligning certification with the demands of modern teaching, ensuring that qualified teachers possess both knowledge and hands-on skills before entering the classroom.

The upcoming shift marks a significant transformation in Ghana’s education sector, with the government hoping to raise the bar for teacher preparedness and, ultimately, student learning outcomes.