Dr. Christian Addai-Poku, the NTC's Registrar, has pleaded with the national government to forbid Ghanaian teachers having NTC license cards from relocating to the UK in order to teach.
The Executive Director of NTC has encouraged stakeholders to help prevent the situation, citing that the high attrition rate in the nation's education sector poses a serious threat to the future of the country's education and development.
Speaking at the Ghana Teacher Prize (GTP) 2023 event held in Takoradi in the Western Region, Addai-Poku said over 16,000 Ghanaian teachers applied to the Department of Education in the UK for employment by June 13, 2023.
"10,000 of the applicants with Ghana teacher licenses had been certified to work in the UK without any further assessment (qualified teacher status test) by the UK government," the NTC Director informed stakeholders at the occasion.
The National Teaching Council (NTC) Registrar posited that although the nation churns out a huge number of qualified teachers each year, the high attrition rate turns around to create a shortage every year across the country.
He promised to collaborate with both local and international agencies that were ready to partner to shape the training and professionalism of Ghanaian teachers to give their best towards the transformation of the country economy.
On his part, former Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Education, Prof. Andy Ofori-Birikorangon, stated that the role of teachers in the nation’s development agenda could not be underestimated, saying that teachers were responsible for society's health, harmony, and prosperity.
However, the National Teaching Council (NTC) also stated that qualified in-service teachers issued the approved Ministry of Education (MoE) teacher license cards can teach in the country and also outside Ghana.
According to the IT officer for the Teaching Council, Derrick Nii Adjei Adjei, speaking in an interview monitored by AcademicWeek.com, the teacher license card issued to government school teachers is recognized by the African Federation of Teachers.
“You can teach outside Ghana with the NTC teachers license card; we have an affiliation with the African Federation of Teachers, so they know of our license and are willing to accept a Ghanaian license,” the NTC official said.
The Registrar of NTC, Addai Poku, gave more details regarding teaching outside Ghana using the license card. He said an NTC-licensed teacher who wants to teach outside Ghana will submit the pin on the card to the employer for confirmation.
"If you travel to Canada to teach, you just give them your teacher license card, and they will log in to the NTC portal with your pin number on the card and know everything about you," Dr. Christian Addai Poku said.
