The Ministry of Education’s recent directive to abolish the Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination (GTLE) has sparked growing concerns about the future of the Professional Development Allowance (PDA) provided annually to teachers.
Introduced in 2020, the PDA was established to support continuous professional development (CPD) among in-service teachers, in line with licensing requirements under the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023). The allowance is intended to assist teachers in accumulating CPD points, building professional portfolios, and covering training-related expenses necessary for license renewal.
However, with the Ministry’s instruction to the National Teaching Council (NTC) to discontinue the GTLE effective 2025, questions are now being raised about the continued relevance and sustainability of the PDA. Some stakeholders fear that removing the examination component could weaken the legal and institutional framework that currently justifies CPD compliance, potentially putting the allowance at risk.
While the directive focuses solely on abolishing the examination, clarity is still needed on how this decision will affect ongoing CPD obligations and teacher license renewals. The NTC has yet to release an official position outlining how the reforms will be implemented or how professional standards will be maintained in the absence of the GTLE.
Teacher unions, including GNAT and NAGRAT, are monitoring the situation closely. Calls have already been made for immediate consultation with the Ministry of Education to ensure that teachers' professional incentives, including the PDA, are protected as the reforms take shape. Union representatives have reiterated that the allowance is not a benefit or reward, but a necessary investment in improving teaching standards and learning outcomes.
So far, there has been no official indication from either the Ministry of Finance or the Ghana Education Service that the allowance will be withdrawn. Nonetheless, the evolving policy direction suggests the need for clear and timely guidance from government to safeguard accountability and structure in teacher development.
As the licensing landscape shifts, teachers are encouraged to stay informed, engage their union representatives, and participate in stakeholder discussions. The future of the PDA may ultimately depend on how the Ministry and NTC redefine professional growth and standards in a post-GTLE era.
Source: GESQuicknews
