The National Teaching Council, Ghana Education Service, T-TEL, and five universities have signed a landmark MoU to provide Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) training for non-professional teachers in Ghana.

Ghana Launches Major Initiative to Professionalise Non-Professional Teachers

A major step towards strengthening teacher professionalism in Ghana has been taken following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the (NTC), the (GES), (T-TEL), and five public and private universities.

The agreement, signed at the Ministry of Education in Accra on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, seeks to provide structured professional training for non-professional teachers currently serving in Ghana’s schools.

The initiative is expected to bridge the qualification gap among teachers and ensure that all educators meet national professional standards.

PGDE Programme to Upgrade In-Service Teachers

Under the agreement, non-professional teachers will be enrolled in a special (PGDE) programme designed to equip them with essential pedagogical knowledge and classroom competencies.

The programme will focus on key areas such as:

• Teaching methodology
• Classroom management
• Learner assessment
• Curriculum implementation
• Professional ethics
• Inclusive education practices

Participants will undergo the training while remaining in active service, allowing them to continue teaching while upgrading their professional qualifications.

Haruna Iddrisu Emphasises Quality and Equity

Addressing participants at the signing ceremony, , Minister for Education, underscored the importance of teacher quality in transforming Ghana’s education system.

According to the Minister, educational transformation requires teachers who possess both strong subject knowledge and professional teaching skills.

He noted that every child deserves access to a teacher trained to the highest professional standards and stressed that the initiative seeks to eliminate distinctions between professional and non-professional teachers within the system.

The Minister further disclosed that government remains committed to improving teacher welfare and is preparing to introduce a new teacher housing initiative known as Teacher Dabre.

NTC Highlights Need for Professional Training

Speaking at the event, , Registrar of the NTC, explained that many teachers entered the profession through alternative pathways without receiving formal training in pedagogy.

According to him, data available to the Council indicates that a significant number of teachers lack professional preparation in critical areas such as:

• Teaching and learning methodologies
• Classroom management
• Student assessment
• Educational psychology

He explained that the PGDE programme has been designed specifically to address these gaps and improve learner outcomes across the country.

Five Universities to Deliver the Programme

The professional training programme will be delivered by five accredited universities:

• (UCC)
• (UEW)
• (UDS)
• (USTED)

These institutions will collaborate with NTC and GES to ensure that programme content aligns with national teacher competency requirements.

Strengthening National Teachers’ Standards

Beyond the immediate training programme, the MoU establishes a framework for long-term collaboration among the participating institutions.

The agreement is expected to support:

• Alignment of teacher education curricula with the National Teachers’ Standards (NTS)
• Joint educational research initiatives
• Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programmes
• Enhanced teacher quality assurance mechanisms
• Improved teacher licensing and professional regulation

Education stakeholders have welcomed the initiative as a significant step towards strengthening teacher professionalism and improving learning outcomes in Ghanaian schools.

What This Means for Teachers

The new PGDE pathway offers non-professional teachers an opportunity to obtain recognised professional qualifications without leaving their current positions.

Successful completion of the programme is expected to enhance professional competence, strengthen career progression opportunities, and ensure compliance with national teacher licensing requirements.

The initiative also supports Ghana’s broader agenda of improving teaching quality and achieving equitable access to quality education for all learners.

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