The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government of reneging on its promise to cancel the National Teacher Licensure Examination (NTLE), saying the continued examination regime is leaving many candidates frustrated, financially burdened and uncertain about their professional future.
According to the NPP, the NDC, while in opposition, promised teachers and prospective candidates that the licensure examination would be scrapped when the party returned to power. The party says candidates therefore expected the government to fulfil that pledge after assuming office.
The NPP argues, however, that the situation has taken a different turn, with candidates still required to undertake licensure examinations and, in some cases, return for resits after unsuccessful attempts.
The party says what it describes as a high failure rate among candidates has become a major concern, particularly for individuals who have invested significant time, energy and financial resources in pursuing careers in teaching.
It further contends that candidates who fail the examination face additional financial pressure through resit fees, transportation costs and other expenses associated with repeated attempts.
According to the NPP, the combination of repeated failures, financial obligations and uncertainty surrounding the future of the licensure system is creating considerable anxiety among affected candidates.
The opposition party says many aspiring teachers entered the system with the expectation that the NDC would abolish the examination as promised, but are now confronted with what it describes as an increasingly burdensome process.
The NPP is therefore demanding a clear explanation from the government and the National Teaching Council (NTC) regarding the future of the examination and the arrangements for candidates who have failed or are unable to meet the requirements after several attempts.
It has also questioned whether there is a clear and sustainable pathway for candidates who repeatedly fail the examination, arguing that affected individuals deserve certainty about their professional future rather than being left in what it describes as an endless cycle of examinations and resits.
The opposition party has consequently described the development as a possible attempt to frustrate candidates and is calling on the NDC government to clarify its position, address concerns over resit costs and provide a transparent roadmap for all affected teacher candidates.
