Teacher trainees vow to remain unemployed over licensing exams [Audio]

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Some teacher trainees say they are prepared to go hungry rather than write a licensing examination to guarantee them employment.

A group calling itself Friends of Colleges of Education in Ghana says the examination is a ploy by the government to usurp the mandate of the University of Cape Coast and reduce teacher population.

Members insist government has an obligation to offer them employment based on their training and qualification.

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Their threat comes after some teachers staged a demonstration in Kumasi to protest the move by the government.

The protesters calling themselves Friends from Colleges of Education have said they have not been given any orientation and course materials to equip them for the newly introduced examinations.

Ashanti Regional President of the Association, Freeman Yeboah said the Ashanti Region branch will not opt for its members staying home without employment but insists subjecting teachers to multiple examinations to qualify them for jobs is unfair.

Applicants expected to pay a registration fee of GHc220 for the exam which is scheduled to take place from Monday, September 10 to Wednesday, September 12, 2018, in all Colleges of Education.

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The examination is for all teachers who hold the Diploma in Basic Education (DBE), Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) or a post-graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) who want to be employed by the Ghana Education Service.

According to the National Teaching Council, the purpose of the licensing examination is to enable qualified teachers to acquire a professional license to ply their trade.