Ghana education officials address SHS placement and teacher licensing

In Ghana, education officials and advocates are addressing challenges regarding student placement and teacher professional standards. Kwesi Kwarteng, a former Ministry of Education Public Relations Officer, has called for a review of the Senior High School (SHS) placement criteria. He argues that the current requirement for candidates to pass both English Language and Mathematics has excluded approximately 55,000 students from the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) placement process.

Kwarteng suggests returning to previous policies where students who passed one of the two core subjects could still secure placement and improve their performance at the secondary level. He noted that while 565,000 out of nearly 620,000 candidates met current requirements, the policy itself acts as a barrier to access.

Separately, Obenfo Nana Kwasi Gyetuah, National Executive Director of the Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS), warned that unlicensed teachers face up to three years in prison under Section 87 of the Education Regulatory Act. The National Teaching Council (NTC) is mandated to remove untrained teachers from the profession.

GNACOPS is exploring ways to help private school teachers upgrade their qualifications, noting that challenges such as incompatible academic calendars for distance education and financial constraints have hindered professional development.