GES Opens Applications for Fast-Track PGDE to Upgrade Non-Professional Teachers.

 

GES Opens Applications for Fast-Track PGDE to Upgrade Non-Professional Teachers.

The National Teaching Council (NTC), in partnership with the Ghana Education Service (GES), has released an official notice inviting non-professional teachers to apply for the Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) programme. 

This initiative supports teachers currently working in public and private pre-tertiary institutions who do not yet hold a professional teaching qualification and forms part of a broader national effort to strengthen the quality of teaching and learning across the country.

The fast-track PGDE programme will commence in December 2025, and interested teachers are required to submit their applications by 30th November 2025.

The programme is designed to equip teachers with the professional skills, knowledge, and values needed to deliver effective instruction in the classroom. Upon completion, teachers will gain the recognised professional qualification required for licensure, ensuring they meet the standards expected within the pre-tertiary education system. 

The PGDE runs for 16 to 20 weeks, depending on the university, and the fee has been set at a subsidised rate of GHS 5,000, with additional financial support available through T‑TEL for teachers under 35. 

Participants who were employed before 30th September 2018 do not need to sit for the teacher licensure examination, while non-degree holders (e.g., HND, Diploma) may participate in a 1-week boot camp training, after which they can receive permanent registration to teach legally. 

An estimated 30,000 non-professional teachers across the country are expected to benefit from this initiative, which is in line with Act 1023 (Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020) requiring all teachers to be licensed. To further support participants, GES and NTC are also running a 4-day training programme consisting of two days face-to-face and two days online for in-service teachers pursuing the PGDE.

To implement this programme, the NTC is collaborating with four accredited universities: the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), the University of Cape Coast (UCC), the Akenten Appiah Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED), and the University for Development Studies (UDS). Each university will deliver the PGDE in line with NTC guidelines, maintaining high academic and professional standards.

Applications are now open, and interested teachers can register through the official online link APPLY   HERE. Additional inquiries may be directed to the Public Affairs Unit of the National Teaching Council via their official email or website. 

The Council encourages all eligible non-professional teachers to take advantage of this opportunity to advance their careers and contribute more effectively to teaching and learning in the classroom.