Education specialist Divine Kpe is calling on the government to reconsider introducing a standardised entrance assessment for prospective teacher trainees.
Speaking on ABC in the Morning, Mr. Kpe argued that beyond academic qualifications, a baseline entry test would help screen for aptitude, passion, and essential teaching skills.
“We need to ensure the right people are entering the profession. Teaching is not just about passing exams—it’s about having the heart and ability to inspire and manage a classroom,” he said.
Mr. Kpe welcomed the Education Ministry’s decision to scrap the teacher licensure exams by August 30, describing it as “a step in the right direction.”
He maintained that the traditional pencil-and-paper test has not been an accurate gauge of classroom readiness.
“We have genuinely been worried, as it has been pencil-to-paper assessment, but at the end of the day, teaching is an act. It should be a classroom scenario,” he explained.
According to him, assessing trainee teachers in real-life teaching situations would offer a far more effective and meaningful evaluation.
“They should teach for you to see if they have the aptitude for teaching,” he stressed.
He also raised concerns about the motivations behind many young people entering teacher training colleges, suggesting that the profession is increasingly seen as a job security route rather than a calling.
“It has become more of an employment securing strategy instead of a passion-driven commitment to education,” he noted.
Mr. Kpe urged the Ministry of Education and allied institutions to develop a competency-based and inclusive assessment model that truly reflects the demands of modern teaching and ensures quality learning outcomes for Ghana’s future generations.
