A Critical Look At Teachers Professional Development – The Lamentations Of Ghana Teachers

Before the introduction of license into the teaching profession in Ghana, various professional bodies like drivers, GMA, GRNA, GBA to mention but a few had operating license. 

A lot of us were happy with this introduction of license into our profession because we thought we were now going to be true professionals. Little did we know that people were going to take advantage  and exploit us in the cause of renewal of this license.

If we are licensed professionals,what it means is that periodically, we have to renew the license.  

The Negative Side

What is the lay down procedure for the renewal of the teachers license within a specified period of about 3 to 4 years.

We are told to attend CPD workshops to build 72 – 100 points within the three or four years interval before the license is renewed. 

On two occasions teachers in the New Juaben North Municipality converged at the assembly hall of Oyoko Methodist SHS at each occasion they were about 350 in number to attend the CPD workshop to build points.

On one occasion they paid 75gh to build 8 points and another occasions they paid 55gh to build 2 points.

Teachers in the Abuakwa North District are currently paying 75gh to build 4 points.

Now, if a teacher is to build 100 points and by building 4 points from each CPD workshop, what it means is that the teacher must attend 4 times 25 CPD workshops to build the 100points.

And this is where the teacher is able to get all the 4 points for each attendance and this means the teacher must pay 75×25 before his license is renewed. 

teacher is not able to build 4 points from each attendance, then your guess should be as good as mine.

Besides the monetary aspect of this CPD thing, the way the workshops are organized leaves much to be desired. We have categories of teachers such as: Basic School Teachers, Second Cycle Teachers and Special School Teachers

What has the teacher who has a certificate in early childhood got in common with a teacher with a certificate in basic education or what does a teacher who has a certificate of B Ed science with chemistry. or physics or biology as a major has in common with a Ghanaian language teacher or what has PE teacher has in common with economics teacher.

Questions

Before the introduction of the license how many times did the employer (GES) organizing refresher courses for the employees within the four year intervals?

Why is that an estimated number of courses will be organized for teachers in the name of points building to renew license.

If our employer cannot organize professional development workshops for us freely but we have to pay, then we must demand a better  of such workshops and the number reduced by increasing the points per a workshop within a specified time.

It should not centre on the money but true Professionalism. We must also not go through untold hardships before our license can be renewed.

All teachers in a district must not leave the classroom the whole day to attend a workshop in the name of renewal of license. Teacher Unions should intervene.

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