Unqualified teachers in classrooms threaten student learning outcomes – Eduwatch Official Warns

A Senior Program Officer at EDUWATCH, Divine Ekpe, has expressed concern about the presence of more than 42,000 unqualified teachers in Ghana’s classrooms, warning that this could negatively affect the quality of education and students’ understanding.

Speaking on the issue during a Zoom meeting on Kessben TV’s Digest show, Divine Ekpe described the situation as unfortunate but admitted that authorities cannot simply dismiss the teachers, since they are already part of the education system.

According to him, effective teaching requires two key competencies — content knowledge and pedagogical knowledge. He explained that while many of the teachers may possess academic qualifications in their subject areas, they lack the professional training needed to deliver lessons and facilitate learners’ understanding effectively.

“It is one thing to have the content knowledge and another thing to have the pedagogical knowledge to make students understand the concept being taught,” he stated.

He stressed that some teachers may hold degrees in various disciplines but have never been professionally trained as educators, making it difficult for them to communicate lessons strategically in ways students can easily grasp.

The EDUWATCH official cautioned that Ghana’s education sector must be concerned about the growing number of untrained teachers in classrooms, insisting that a lack of professional teaching skills could hinder learning outcomes and negatively affect students’ academic development.

Divine Ekpe further emphasized that teaching goes beyond subject mastery, noting that professional classroom delivery methods are essential in ensuring effective learning and student comprehension.