Teaching Is a Profession, Not a Vocation — David Ofori Acheampong Cautions Government

Former General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), David Ofori Acheampong, has urged the government to tread carefully with its plans to scrap the Teacher Licensure Examination, stressing that teaching is a profession and must be treated as such.

Speaking to Kessben TV on Maakye show, Mr. Ofori Acheampong reacted to the Education Minister’s announcement that scrapping the licensure exam was part of the party’s manifesto promises. He questioned the level of professional consultation that went into making that decision, insisting that some aspects of manifestos require technical advice before being adopted.

“When drafting a manifesto as a political party intending to win political power, there are certain aspects that need key professional advice before they are added,” he stated. “The question is, what preparatory work did the party do leading to that aspect of the manifesto that now needs professional advice?”

Mr. Ofori Acheampong emphasized the importance of the licensure exam, explaining that teaching is a professional career and not just a vocation and therefore there must be a licensing process to validate and maintain standards within the field. According to him, anyone entering the teaching field must demonstrate two key competencies: in-depth knowledge of their subject and strong pedagogical skills.

“Learning a subject is different from teaching it, while anyone may study a subject, teaching it effectively requires a different set of skills,” he added.

He concluded by urging the government to prioritize professional and technical considerations over political promises when dealing with matters that affect the country’s future, particularly in the education sector.

By: Gifty Bediako Yamoah