Minister of Education urges teachers to work harder to justify awards

Accra, Sept. 7, GNA - Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu, Minister of Education, on Wednesday urged teachers to work harder to justify the institution of award scheme and other incentives by Government to appreciate their role in national development.

She pointed out that with media publications about the falling standards of quality education in public schools, there was a general outcry by all and sundry to improve the standard of education in public schools.


"It has therefore become more important now than ever before to invest and motivate teachers who are the bedrock of teaching and learning and drivers of quality education," the Sector Minister said.


Mrs Mould-Iddrisu made the call when launching the 17th National Best Teacher Awards in Accra.


This year's award is on the theme: 93Teachers for Gender Equality." The National Best Teacher Awards was instituted in 1995 to recognise and motivate the contribution of teachers in education delivery. This year, 49 teachers would be awarded at the national level, 360 at the regional level and 3,312 at the metropolitan, municipal and district levels.


Some of the categories to be awarded include, overall national best teacher, first runner-up, second runner-up, retired teachers from host region and districts, best HIV and AIDS alert school, schools of the top three award winners.

Other categories are special education teacher category, non-teaching personnel, innovative use of ICT in education category, primary school, junior high school, senior high school, basic school science and maths category.


The award package consists of a three-bedroom house, laptop and a set of computer and accessories for the overall winner and his or her school.


Other packages for various categories are a saloon car, double door fridge and LCD TV set, gas cooker, native carvings and artefacts for foreign volunteers and other consolation prizes.


Mrs Mould-Iddrisu said the total budget required for this year's award programme was GHc752,307 and expressed hope that more sponsors would come on board to make the awards ceremony a reality.


The Sector Minister said appreciating and rewarding efforts of teachers was a step in the right direction.

Innolink Limited, IPMC, SIC Life, Top Kings Limited, Zepto Limited, rlg Communications and SOMOTEX gave various pledges in support of the award ceremony.


Mr Michael Ipkoki, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Foundation, pledged $46,200 for the first runner-up.


This year's award ceremony would be held at Takoradi on October 5, to coincide with World Teachers Day celebration.


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