The move, according to the NTC, is to enforce discipline and eliminate non-performing teachers from the system, in accordance with the new Teachers Licencing Policy under the Education Act 778 (2008).

Dr. Augustine Tawiah, Executive Secretary-designate of the National Teaching Council of the Ministry of Education, disclosed this in Accra last week at the closing ceremony of a five-day intensive in-service training workshop for teachers in the Greater Accra Region.

The workshop which was attended by 297 subject teachers in the Primary, Junior and Senior High Schools was organised by the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) with support from the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF).

According to Dr. Tawiah, all formalities for the full implementation of the Act had been finalised and a secretariat to issue the licence had been established.

He disclosed that beginning next January, the ministry would undertake re-registration of all teachers in the country to facilitate the issuance of the licences.

He said, no teacher could teach in any school in the country without the Teacher’s Licence from next year.
Dr. Tawiah explained that renewal of the licence would be based on professional competence and development of teachers, stressing that, all teachers would be expected to renew their licence within three to five years.

“There are some teachers who, right after graduation from the training colleges, do not upgrade their knowledge in their subject areas and also do not upgrade their teaching skills and methodology.

Teachers who would apply for renewal of licence must prove they have personally undertaken some professional upgrading of knowledge and skills” he said.

Dr. Tawiah mentioned that teachers who teach students to fail continuously in examinations like the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and other local and national examinations would not get their licences renewed.

He emphasised that the licence was to get rid of lazy and non-performing teachers in the educational sector, adding that it would require teachers to prove their competence and achieve results, in their areas of specialisations.

Dr. Tawiah noted that new teachers would receive their licences after graduation next year, but those already in the system must provide evidence and prove to the ministry of their achievements in the teaching profession to renew their licence.

He disclosed that, the ministry and the National Teaching Council (NTC) would soon embark on public education and deepen consultations on the new Teacher’s Licensing Policy to ensure a smooth take-off next year.

The National President of GNAT, Paul Agyei Boakye disclosed that, the in-service training for teachers in the Greater Accra Region was the third and last training workshop for teachers this year after a similar one in the Western and Central Regions.

He encouraged participants to let what they had learnt at the workshop reflect in their teaching when they return to their respective schools.
He also advised the participants and teachers in general, to be punctual at school and avoid absenteeism.

Mr. Boakye expressed gratitude to the CTF delegation to Ghana for the collaboration in the in-service training workshop for teachers in the country.
Mr. Lyle Watling, Team Leader of CTF, disclosed that GNAT and CTF collaboration dated back some 20 years ago.

According to him, the collaboration had been mutually beneficial and reiterated their commitment to support Ghanaian teachers.

The Deputy General Secretary of GNAT in-charge of Education and Professional Development, Mr. Thomas Baafi, disclosed that two new components of training were added to this year’s workshop.

These are the New Entrant Programme to help newly trained teachers to integrate smoothly into the teaching profession, and the “Nkabom Project” to assist teachers in deprived communities with professional training and teaching materials.

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Source: Ghanaian Times

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The explosion, according to eyewitnesses, was caused by the leakage of the gas which was being supplied to GHUMCO.

A first stationary gas tank exploded, injuring firefighters who were at the time trying to bring the situation under control.

A second explosion; which was from the very vehicle discharging the gas, was huge such that, the tanker divided into two with huge inferno and heat travelling through the atmosphere for over 100 meters before landing in a nearby lagoon.

Two nearby warehouses full of different food items were also razed by the inferno.

After visiting the victims and the accident scene, Dr. Amin Adam noted that, the company must be appropriately sanctioned.

He said “I want the NPA to consider withdrawing the license of the OMC because many a time when they continue to hold their license, they find ways to do the same business elsewhere and therefore the punishment and the sanctions does not become punitive enough because they would find a way to operate with the same license.”

He added that, government will no more entertain any form of negligence on the part of fuel distribution and pump stations that result in injuries and deaths.

“This is a new regime, a new ways of doing things and I believe that Ghanaians, especially managers of such important facilities will sit up and begin to know that government will not take lightly any form of negligence and non-compliance with regulations that would lead to the death of people or injuries.”

Companies complicit in disasters will foot victims’ medical bills – Minister 

Meanwhile, Dr. Amin has also announced government’s decision not to foot the medical bills of the injured in mass accidents such as the explosion.

He said the companies involved would be forced to bear such cost henceforth
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By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Speaking at an event to swear in national officers of CCT in Accra today [Sunday], the President of the group, King Ali, expressed worry about some discrepancies in the teacher licensing policy which according to him, needs to be amended with immediate effect.

He however commended government for it free SHS policy, and called on government to come clean on how it intends to fund and sustain the programme.

The National President of CCT King Ali Awudu, also raised concerns about accommodation challenges when teachers are transferred to rural parts of the country, and called on the government through the Ghana Education Service to make decent accommodation available for all teachers posted to such areas.

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By: Kojo Agyeman/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post New CCT executives want gov’t to re-look at licensing teachers appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the him, Parliament is the only institution that has the power to review any part of the Road Traffic Law.

A memo sighted by Citi News revealed that the Police Command had ordered the suspension of all vehicle checks and the inspection of driver’s licenses and vehicle documents, citing among others, the inconvenience the inspection caused to motorists and the perceived corruption associated with it.

But Derek Oduro, also the MP for the Nkoranza North constituency, told Citi News that the Police had no right to issue such a directive.

He explained that, “if you want to amend the law, it has to come back to parliament. No individual or group of people or organisation or institution can review the law, abrogate the law, can do away with the law without first passing it through Parliament.”

The MP acknowledged that, the vehicle and license checks did provide an avenue for corruption but suggested that instead of the ban, “the IGP should impress upon the police to stop collecting bribes from the drivers and not undermining the laws that have been passed by Parliament.”

Ban to help police focus on curbing road accidents

The Police Service has also explained that the decision to suspend the checks was aimed at helping its personnel focus on reducing needless vehicular accidents.

The Police observed that, the over-concentration of MTTD personnel on motor checks at the expense of traffic management increases the likelihood of road fatalities occurring.

The Police administration also dismissed suggestions that the directive was politically motivated ahead of elections in December.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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