Ministry of Higher Education to Stop Grade 12 Graduates Teaching in Schools
By Awa Sanneh
The Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology, Professor Pierre Gomez, has declared the discontinuation of the practice permitting grade twelve graduates to teach in schools. This decision is a crucial step in an overarching initiative to enhance the qualifications and standards of educators, ensuring a robust foundation for children’s education.
Minister Gomez underlines the importance of establishing a solid educational base by insisting that educators must have achieved a degree level of education. The objective is to empower children with essential knowledge and skills for a successful academic journey.
According to Professor Gomez, “The roadmap and the vision are in this country; therefore, we will graduate from having unqualified teachers in the nursery school, those days will be over as we are coming up with strategies where at the nursery school level one will need to be a degree holder to teach.”
Additionally, Professor Gomez emphasises the importance of education planning and management. He urges school principals and headmasters to stay updated with appropriate management techniques and planning principles to ensure schools are on the right track.
The Ministry of Higher Education advocates for a thorough review of the entry requirements for pre-service teachers, focusing on selecting qualified individuals with academic excellence, passion, and commitment. Quality is prioritised over quantity in the education sector.
“By raising the bar for entry, we guarantee a pull of educators who possess not only academic excellence but also the passion and commitment required to shape the minds of our future leaders. This implies that our policies must be redirected to create a motivating working environment for education personnel,” the minister stressed.
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The ministry proposes a holistic review of the curriculum to align with the present and future demands of the country’s education system. This includes incorporating innovative teaching methods, embracing technology, and fostering critical thinking and analytical skills. The objective is to produce transformative educators capable of adapting to the evolving needs of society.
Ending the practice of grade 12 graduates teaching in schools is part of the ministry’s broader effort to elevate education standards and provide children with a more comprehensive and impactful learning experience.