Sekyere West District teachers, workers rewarded

Mampong (Ash) July 27, GNA- The Sekyere West District Directorate of Education, on Thursday honoured over 50 teachers and non-teaching staff for contributing towards the development of education in the area from 2004-2006.

The award winners, selected from the primary, junior secondary (JSS) and second-cycle schools and non-teaching staff were presented with prizes including television sets, bicycles, sewing machines, refrigerators and "T" shirts. The ceremony was under the theme "Promoting Education for better Ghana: The Role of the Teacher".

The winners for 2006 in the primary category included Mrs. Mabel Patience Danso of the University of Education Winneba Campus Primary School at Mampong, who received a refrigerator and Mrs Mary Amankwaah of the Kwamang Anglican Primary who took home a 14-inch television set. In the JSS category, Mr. Elisha Badu of the Kwamang Anglican JSS who took the first position, received a refrigerator, Mr. Joseph Acquah of Abuotem D/A JSS, who took the second position received a 14-inch television set while Mr Agyemang Prempeh Bonsu of Krobo D/A JSS who placed third also received a bicycle.

In the second cycle category, Mr William Boateng of Nsuataman Secondary School who placed first and Mr K.G. Appiah-Kubi of Mampong Teachers Technical College who took the second position received a refrigerator and 14 inches television set each. Mrs Belinda Serwaa Addo, the Ashanti Regional Director of Education, urged teachers to work hard to ensure the success of the New Educational Reform that was expected to commence in September this year. She also asked them to eschew lateness, absenteeism, drunkenness, laziness and others vices which could affect teaching and learning. Mr. Haruna Oppong-Boateng, the District Chief Executive, said the intention of government to introduce the Fair Wages Commission Bill to Parliament was a demonstration that the authorities were committed to correcting all distortions and disparities in the salary structure of teachers.

He announced that last year the assembly released of 4,000 Ghana cedis (40 nillion cedis) to support teacher trainees, under the Untrained Teachers Diploma in Basic Education Programme in the district. Mrs. Gladys Amaning, the District Director of Education, said out of 2,231 candidates presented for the 2006 Basic Education Certificate Examination, 1,342 passed with aggregate 6 to 30 representing 60.2 per cent of the candidates. She commended individuals, organizations and the assembly who contributed to awards. Daasebre Osei Bonsu 11, Mamponghene, suggested the creation of a Joint Consultative Education Committee/Forum for the district to strategise the implementation of the New Educational Reform. He praised the various award winners and expressed the hope that the awards would inspire recipients and their colleagues to work harder to promote education. 27 July 07