NTC Dismisses Claims of Licensure Fee Increase, Defends Reform of Teacher Licensing

Ferdinand  | Education Ghana | February 23 | NTC Dismisses Claims of Licensure Fee Increase, Defends Reform of Teacher Licensing

NTC Board Chairman Kwami Alorvi dismisses claims of increased licensure fees and clarifies that the NDC government has fulfilled its pledge to reform and integrate the Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination.

The Board Chairman of the National Teaching Council (NTC), Mr Kwami Alorvi, has firmly dismissed claims circulating on social media that the Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination fees have been increased and that the government has reneged on its promise to abolish the examination.

Addressing a press conference on Monday, 23 February 2026, Mr Alorvi described the allegations as false and misleading, stating that the engagement was necessary to correct misinformation before it gained further traction.

No Increase in Licensure Examination Fees

Mr. Alorvi clarified that the last adjustment of fees occurred in 2023 under the previous administration. Since then, the fees have remained unchanged.

Fresh candidates continue to pay GH¢450, while resit candidates pay GH¢150 per subject, GH¢210 for two subjects, and GH¢350 for three subjects. An indexation fee of GH¢50, introduced in 2023, also remains in place.

He noted that the same fees apply to fresh candidates from Colleges of Education affiliated with the who could not sit for the integrated licensure examination in October 2025 due to data upload challenges.

According to him, suggestions that fees have been increased are unfounded and amount to deliberate misinformation.

NDC Manifesto Promise Implemented

On claims that the government had abandoned its pledge to abolish the licensure examination, Mr Alorvi explained that the commitment in the 2024 manifesto was to reform and integrate the licensing process into the final year examinations of teacher trainees.

He stated that the reform has been implemented. The traditional post-graduation, stand-alone examination has been phased out. Instead, licensure is now integrated into the final semester assessment of Colleges of Education, with the addition of a practical teaching component constituting 30 per cent of the total mark.

He revealed that the minister for education established a seven-member committee in April 2025 to develop modalities for the reform. The committee’s recommendations led to a three-tier transition plan, including the phasing out of the old system in August 2025 and the introduction of the reformed model in October 2025.

Legal Mandate Under Act 1023

Mr Alorvi emphasised that the licensure examination is grounded in law under the. The Act mandates the NTC to conduct examinations for licensing teachers and to issue professional licences to qualified candidates.

He stressed that neither the council nor any government can arbitrarily abolish the examination without amending the law.

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Standardisation and Professional Competence

The NTC Chairman also defended the examination as a necessary standardisation mechanism, given that multiple universities mentor and award degrees to colleges of education under varying grading systems.

Currently, the University of Ghana and the mentor-affiliated Colleges of Education across the country.

He argued that the licensure examination serves as a gatekeeping mechanism to ensure fairness and maintain professional standards across institutions.

International Recognition

Mr. Alorvi further indicated that Ghana’s licensing regime aligns with international practice. The NTC is a member of the and the .

He added that Ghanaian teachers holding NTC licences have secured employment opportunities in countries such as Canada and the United Kingdom without being subjected to additional teacher qualification examinations.

Conclusion

Mr. Alorvi concluded by reiterating that the claims of fee increases and policy reversal are false. He called on the public and the media to rely on verified information and assured stakeholders that the NTC remains open to constructive proposals aimed at improving the licensure regime.