The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has commissioned the new office complex of the National Teaching Council in Tamale, reaffirming government’s commitment to improving education and the welfare of teachers across the country.
Addressing guests at the ceremony, the Minister praised the leadership of the council for its determination and sense of national purpose in completing the project.
He assured teachers that government remains committed to enhancing their professional status, welfare and continuous development.
The Minister disclosed that concerns raised by teachers during this year’s May Day celebrations, including unpaid transfer grants, promotion allowances and car maintenance allowances, had already been communicated to the Finance Minister for attention.
He further stressed the need to support blind teachers and increase the recruitment of persons from vulnerable and disabled communities into the teaching profession.
On education reforms, Mr. Iddrisu explained that the teacher licensure examination system had been reviewed in line with the governing NDC’s manifesto promise.
According to him, teacher trainees will no longer complete school and wait to sit separate licensure examinations. Instead, the licensure process has now been integrated into final-year college examinations, including practical teaching components which will account for 30 percent of the total assessment.
The Minister also announced government’s Teacher Welfare Initiative, which seeks to provide 50,000 housing units for teachers through mortgage arrangements supported by government, pension funds and the District Assemblies Common Fund.
He said the initiative is aimed at enabling teachers to own homes while still in active service.
Mr. Iddrisu emphasized the need for integrity, discipline, innovation and excellence in classrooms, while outlining government’s vision of building a highly trained, motivated and globally competitive teaching workforce.
He revealed that a curriculum review from kindergarten to junior secondary school was nearing completion, with plans to introduce subjects such as ethics, financial literacy, teamwork, electronics, robotics, coding and artificial intelligence into early education.
On infrastructure development, the Education Minister outlined major reforms under the Free Senior High School programme.
Beginning in July, government plans to renovate 150 secondary schools, improve 13 Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions, and construct 10 new TVET schools across the country.
Additionally, 50 senior high schools are expected to be upgraded through a proposed 300-million-dollar World Bank facility.
Under the initiative, 30 Category C schools will be upgraded to Category B status, while 20 Category B schools will be elevated to Category A.
The upgrades are expected to include new classrooms, dormitories, laboratories and workshops.
The Sagnarigu Municipal Chief Executive, Abdulai Imoro, who represented the Northern Regional Minister, commended the Ministry of Education, the National Teaching Council, contractors, consultants and workers for completing the facility.
He described the new office as a major step toward strengthening education delivery, improving teacher professionalism and enhancing service delivery in the Northern Region.
He noted that education remains the foundation of national development and that investing in teachers is an investment in Ghana’s future.
According to him, the office complex will improve teacher regulation, professional development and administrative support by bringing services closer to teachers and reducing delays.
He also urged teachers to make good use of the facility and uphold high standards of professionalism and integrity.
The Board Chairman of the National Teaching Council described the commissioning as a major milestone in strengthening teacher professionalism and improving quality education delivery in Ghana.
He explained that the new regional offices in Tamale and Kumasi are intended to bring NTC services closer to teachers and stakeholders within the northern and middle zones of the country.
According to him, the facilities will serve as centres for teacher licensing, professional development, teacher performance management and ethics coordination.
He added that the Council previously operated from rented premises at high cost, making the construction of permanent office facilities necessary to improve efficiency and nationwide access to services.
Source:Fillafmonline/Walkiyatu Issahaku
