Education & Teaching
Postgraduate Diploma in Education
The Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) trains graduates who already hold a degree in another field to become qualified teachers. It's the fast-track route into teaching for people who studied something else at university but later decide they want to teach -- a one-year program covering the essential teaching skills and pedagogy.
Program objectives
- 01Build foundational teaching pedagogy and classroom management skills.
- 02Learn curriculum design and lesson planning for your subject area.
- 03Understand child and adolescent development as it relates to teaching.
- 04Get hands-on teaching practice through supervised school placements.
Why choose this program
A fast, practical route into teaching
If you already have a degree in a subject like Science, Business, or Arts but want to teach, this is typically a one-year program rather than starting a full new degree.
Combines existing subject expertise with formal teaching qualification
You bring genuine depth in your original field, and this program adds the teaching skills to make you a qualified, effective educator.
Opens up teaching as a genuine career pivot
Many professionals use this program to transition into teaching later in their careers, bringing real-world experience into the classroom.
Skills you'll build
- Teaching pedagogy and lesson planning
- Classroom and behavior management
- Curriculum design for your subject specialization
- Student assessment techniques
- Patience
- Clear communication with students
- Adaptability (translating subject expertise into teachable lessons)
- Classroom leadership
Tools & software
- Basic educational technology and classroom apps
- Lesson planning tools
Challenges to expect
Academic
- Requires learning genuinely new pedagogical skills within a compressed, one-year timeframe.
Personal
- Balancing teaching practice placements with the academic coursework can be demanding within the shorter program timeline.
Tips from the field
- Take your teaching practice placement seriously -- this is where you translate your existing subject knowledge into real, effective classroom teaching.
- Connect with experienced teachers in your subject area during your placement; practical mentorship makes a real difference in this compressed program.
- Remember you'll still need to pass the Ghana Teacher Licensure Exam (GTLE) after completing the PGDE to be fully certified.
Career paths
- Subject teacher (JHS/SHS, based on your original degree)
- Curriculum developer
- Educational consultant
- Private tutor/instructor
- School administrator (with further experience)
Where you can study this
| Name | Latest cutoff | Tuition (annual) |
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FAQs
Who is this program designed for?+
It's designed for people who already hold a bachelor's degree in a field other than Education and want a formal, faster pathway to becoming a qualified teacher.
How long does this program take?+
It's typically a one-year program, distance and sandwich mode options are also available at some institutions, making it faster than starting a full new B.Ed degree.
Do I still need to pass a licensing exam after this?+
Yes, like other education qualifications, you'll need to pass the Ghana Teacher Licensure Exam (GTLE) and register with the National Teaching Council.
What subject will I be qualified to teach?+
It's based on your original degree -- for example, someone with a Biology degree would typically use the PGDE to become qualified to teach Biology.
Where can I study this in Ghana?+
University of Education, Winneba and University of Cape Coast both offer well-established Postgraduate Diploma in Education programs.
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