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‘We shouldn’t see all teachers as hopeless over a few failures in licensure exam’ – Prof Adei
A former Rector of the Ghana Institute for Public Administration, GIMPA Prof. Stephen Adei, has urged critics and the public to desist from creating the impression that all teachers in the country are hopeless.
This follows a massive failure of teachers in the 2023 Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination organised by the National Teaching Council.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Upfront, on Wednesday, Prof Adei noted that the number of teachers that failed the exam is a small section compared to the over 300,000 teachers in the country, many of whom have successfully passed the exam.
He added that the teachers that failed in the 2023 May exams are those who failed previously in their multiple attempts to get through with the exams.
“When you look at the 7000, that are mostly repeated, the worst kind. You have over 350,000 teachers. So that’s why I’m saying you must put the 7,000 beside the over 350,000 so that you don’t give the impression that our teachers are all hopeless,” Prof Adei told the host, Isaac Kofi Agyei.
This comes after the National Teaching Council revealed that about 83.5% failed the teachers’ licensure exams held in May 2023.
The NTC noted that out of the 7,728 teachers who participated in the re-sit exams, only 1,277 passed.
The assessment in numeracy, literacy and professional knowledge is to enable qualified teachers to get a professional license, while attracting young graduates with the required professional knowledge and skills to teach.
Following the failure, the Registrar of the National Teaching Council (NTC), Christian Addai-Poku, told JoyNews that the teachers who failed would be given a last chance to re-sit.
However, some prospective students who are preparing to write the exams later this year
A student said, “most of us are doing our preparations on our own, some are relying on past questions, others have created a group to learn from each other.”
Another candidate said during the induction service they were advised to rely on pass questions as it was the best way to adequately prepare.
But Prof Adei believes that teachers do not have a right to demand for study material to aid them in adequately preparing for licensure exams.
According to him, although he has not seen the exam questions, most of the test materials are on topics that should be at the fingertips of professional teachers.
“I wish I had seen the examination because of what the NTC is saying, but basically for a teacher to be told that somebody should be given a syllabus on numeracy, just writing basic essay and you are a trained teacher and we are asking you about basic psychology, classroom management and the rest, and you say somebody should give you some material, you are indicting yourself,” he argued.
He stressed that the request by the teachers suggests that “ they are not qualified to be in the classroom.”
Entertainment
Breaking News: Daddy Lumba is dead – Family announces
Ghanaian music legend Charles Kojo Fosu, popularly known as Daddy Lumba, has died.
His family confirmed the sad news in a press release issued on Saturday, saying the 60-year-old passed away earlier in the day after a short illness.
“It is with profound sorrow and deep grief that the Fosu family announces the passing of Ghana’s beloved musical icon,” the statement read.
Daddy Lumba was one of Ghana’s most celebrated highlife musicians. With a career spanning more than three decades, his songs touched millions, telling stories of love, pain, joy, and hope.
He was known for his powerful voice, emotional lyrics, and unique style that made him a household name across the country and beyond.
“His soulful voice provided the soundtrack to our love stories, and his poignant lyrics captured the poetry of our struggles, dreams, and resilience,” the family said.
The family has asked for privacy as they mourn their loss and promised to announce funeral arrangements in the coming days.
The statement was signed by Fati Ali Yallah, a lawyer from Baba Jamal & Associates, on behalf of the Fosu family.
Fans, fellow musicians, and Ghanaians across the country have started pouring out tributes on social media, remembering Daddy Lumba’s unmatched contribution to Ghanaian music.
Entertainment
Edem’s debut album gets praise from Sarkodie
Ghanaian rap star Sarkodie has celebrated fellow artiste Edem for his groundbreaking debut album “The Volta Regime”, calling it one of the greatest albums in Ghana’s music history.
In a heartfelt social media post, Sarkodie, whose real name is Michael Owusu Addo, reflected on the first time he heard Edem rap.
He said he was instantly impressed and knew Edem would have a serious impact on the music scene.
“I remember when I first encountered my brother Edem, I came back home to tell one of my hommies that this guy will have a serious impact on the music scene,”
“He was like naa because of the language barrier. I said I don’t hear language, I hear greatness. Big up my brother, you are still on my favourite emcee list.” Sarkodie wrote.
Edem, born Denning Edem Hotor, released The Volta Regime in 2009. The album boldly embraced the Ewe language and featured collaborations with top Ghanaian artists including Tinny, Kwabena Kwabena, and Jeremie Van-Garshong.
Despite initial doubts about how well Ewe rap would perform commercially, the album proved to be a major success and introduced a new wave of local-language hip-hop.
Songs like Bra Fre Me, Nyorvuviade, and the powerful Intro helped establish Edem’s lyrical prowess and cemented his place as a unique voice in the Ghanaian music industry.
At a time when the local scene was dominated by Twi and Ga-speaking rappers, Edem’s success broke barriers and made it clear that talent speaks louder than language.
His impact opened doors for more linguistic diversity in hiplife and hip-hop music across the country.
Sarkodie’s tribute is especially meaningful because both artists emerged around the same period. Sarkodie’s own debut album Makye also dropped in 2009, and the two have long shown mutual respect for each other’s craft.
Today, over 15 years after its release, The Volta Regime continues to inspire fans and artists alike. It remains a symbol of bold originality and cultural pride.
Edem has since released several projects and remains an active voice in Ghanaian music and youth advocacy. His legacy is a reminder that true greatness is not limited by language.
