The Ag. Oti Regional Director of Education, Irene Jacquilinda Attabra has called on government and the Ministry of Education to institutionalize compulsory annual award scheme in various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Education Directorates.
He said this will inspire and ensure discipline not only among teachers, but education office staff to enable them put in their best for excellent academic performance.
Such award scheme, she stressed, should not be seen as a one-off celebration but a consistent activity that recognizes hardwork of teachers and rewards those who take up the task of impacting positive lessons to the future leaders, saying “a motivated teacher is a productive educator”.
Mrs. Jacquilinda Attabra who was speaking at the 2nd Edition of Krachi West Municipal Teacher Excellence Award ceremony at Kete-Krachi in the Oti Region indicates that the awards serve as a powerful tool that inspires, retain and showcases professionalism in the education system at all levels of the academic ladder.
According to the Ag. Regional Director, teaching in the 21st Century requires more than content knowledge. A modern teacher, she noted, must inculcate in himself continuous learner, innovative and above all a mentor to the society.
In this direction, Mrs. Jacquilinda Attabra expressed the Oti Region’s Education Directorate’s preparedness to ensure regular professional development through workshops, peer mentoring as well as collaborate with stakeholders in education and education-oriented NGOs.
She assured that all efforts put in place for the upliftment of learners would equally be extended to teachers, “No transformation is possible without the teacher and no curriculum, policy or reform can succeed without a teacher,” she pointed out.
In this regard, the Ag. Oti Regional Director of Education urged the awardees to allow their success story serve as a reminder that their dedication, innovation and moral guidance be a critical space in shaping them for the 21st learners. Mrs. Attabra also urged them not to relent to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and compassion in the classroom.
She noted that education is a shared responsibility which cannot be allowed to rest on the shoulders of Education Service alone and therefore called on parents, traditional leaders and NGOs not to relent in their efforts to advocate for the continuous contribution towards the success of education in the Oti enclave.
However, Mrs. Jacquilinda Attabra pointed out that some of their challenges are internally generated. She mentioned regular absenteeism by teachers, late arrival on school campus, inadequate preparation of lessons and divided attention between school duties and personal businesses among others which are detrimental to the upward growth of education.
The Krachi West Municipal Chief Executive, Prosper Kwaku Addo who described the teacher as a silent architect of the future, urged teachers not to hesitate in shaping the country’s future leaders with the passion and love to ensure that they realize their dreams of becoming responsible adults.
According to him, the world is increasingly driven by technology hence emergence of all manner of machines, but such modern development can never replace the mighty human being’s wisdom of a great teacher.
“Tools may evolve, methods may change but the heart of teaching remains timeless,” he indicated.
The MCE said teachers are the engine behind human capital development and therefore if society is willing to build a resilient economy and a peaceful future, it should invest in and honour the very hands that mold the minds of tomorrow and that is the teacher.
Mr. Addo announced that as part of the assembly’s support for education, they are poised to improve schools’ infrastructure, provide access to teaching and learning materials and would continue to advocate for teachers’ welfare among other profitable incentives.
He stressed that as the municipality celebrates the teacher, stakeholders in education should renew their collective commitment as policy makers to support and uplift the teaching profession to a level worthy of its sort.
The MCE noted that investing in teachers means “you are advocating for the wellbeing of the learners as their future is ultimately guaranteed.”
In a speech read for him, the Paramount Chief of Krachi Traditional Area and President of the Krachi Traditional Council, Krachiwora, Nana Mprah Besemuna pledged their preparedness to cooperate with authorities of both the Regional and District Directorates of education to accelerate development in the municipality.
The Paramount Chief however, expressed dissatisfaction with the numerous challenges confronting the education sector in the municipality and beyond, and urged government to expedite immediate action and fix them for smooth teaching and learning to thrive in the municipality.
Some of the Award Winners who spoke with 3news acknowledge that such awards is a call for them to deepen their impact of teaching in the classroom and beyond for the society to realize the positive work of a teacher in the education sector.
The 2nd Annual Teachers Excellence Award Day was under the theme: “Beyond the Chalkboard; Honouring the Hands that Mold the Future” In all thirty-four (34) teachers including non-teaching staff at the Education Office with various awards for dedicated service.
Overall Best Female Teacher Award went to Adramani Ayisheitu of Kete SDA Kindergarten whilst Besta Debah of Monkra M/A Primary was adjudged the Overall Best Male Teacher. In all 34 teachers drawn from various Basic and Second Cycle Schools in the Krachi West Municipality received honours.
They took home such prizes as Tabletop and Double Door fridges, Flat Screen Smart 32inch. TV sets, Gas Stove and 15kg gas Cylinders, Solar lamp with mp3, Standing fans, Microwaves, Reading books and Certificates as well as Citations.
