Best Teacher Awards held at Goaso

Goaso (B/A), July 15, GNA - Professor Dominic Fobih, Minister of Education, Science and Sports has urged teachers to stay focused and avoid acts that would tarnish the image of the profession. He cited that absenteeism among some teachers "should be a thing of the past," adding, "the country's development process needs the ingenuity, dedication and commitment of teachers to produce responsible and disciplined citizenry".

Prof. Fobih said this in a key note address read for him at the 2005/6/7 best teacher/workers awards ceremony at Goaso in Asunafo North Municipality in Brong Ahafo.

Touching on the theme for the ceremony, "The Teacher: A major partner in quality education", the Minister stressed that quality education was so crucial that it was imperative for teachers to undergo quality training.

Prof Fobih noted that no country could meet her human resource development challenges without the teacher, as all professionals passed through the hands of a teacher.

"The teacher is the center and pivot of any human resource development, as without him/her there cannot be any meaningful socio-political-economic development in a country", he said. The Minister appealed to stakeholders to help enhance the image of the teaching profession, but asked that teachers must themselves live above reproach and conduct, their activities as professionals. Nana Kwadwo Kwarkye, Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, noted with regret the decline in educational standards in the country, the situation being more precarious in Brong Ahafo. He said this could be attributed to parents' lack of interest in the education of their children, indiscipline among teachers and students/pupils.

Alhaji Ishak Bonsu, Municipal Chief Executive, noted the sterling role of teachers in the country's socio-economic development over the years and urged teacher associations to always abide by the Labour Act in seeking redress for their grievances. "You must always endeavour to go to the negotiating table to bargain for better conditions of service and put the interest of the nation above yours", he said.

Mrs. Akua Debrah, Brong Ahafo Regional Director of Education, expressed appreciation for the efforts of teachers in the municipality, which had helped to improve academic standards since the year 2005. A hundred teachers and workers including 50 teachers in deprived communities received bicycles, gas cookers, gas cylinders, television sets and refrigerators as their prizes. Mr. George Antwi of Asanteman Council L/A primary school was adjudged the overall best teacher for 2005-2007 and was presented with a Mitsizu motor bike.