Fuseina Fuseini, a female teacher at the Madina Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Basic School in the Greater Accra Region received the overall Best Teacher Award at the 2024 Ghana Teacher Prize awards.
She received a three-bedroom house worth GH¢500,000.00 with a scholarship to study abroad.
Mr Richard Kwadwo Adomako of the UADDARA Basic School in the Ashanti Region, who was the first runner-up, received a 4×4 pick-up vehicle.
Ms. Victoria Jessey, a headteacher at Akwatia St. Dominic R/C Basic School in the Denkyembour District, who was adjudged the most Outstanding Teacher in Leadership and Administration, took home a saloon car.
Other teachers received awards in various categories for their quest to improving the standard of education in the country.
Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, Minister of Education, commended the awardees for their determination in their efforts to transform the lives of the young ones through education.
He said the government appreciated the efforts of teachers in the transformation of lives through education at various levels and would also reciprocate by providing a conducive environment for teaching and learning.
He stated that politicians were their own enemies and the reason the citizenry was losing respect for them, stressing that a political party in opposition would criticise the government for doing nothing or not much in order to win votes knowing that the government was making efforts.
He said the ruling government was doing so much to transform the educational system to suit the 21st century teaching and learning and that “is the reason there are a new curriculums for basic and the senior high schools”.
He noted that the government has made a massive investment in the education system in terms of infrastructural development including classrooms, dormitories and other logistics for teaching and non-teaching staff.
He said a section of people were discrediting the Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy and the double track system, which he said the ministry was using scientific approach to solve the double track by improving school buildings to enable them give more students opportunity to study.
The minister expressed the view that there were most of the citizens who were not able to realise their dreams because there was no one to support them,” and today because of the Free Senior High School policy, children of judges and labourers can attend the same school for equal opportunities in line of seeking jobs and employment”.
He cautioned students against indiscipline in schools, adding that there would be testimonials of the past to be given to every student after Senior High School education when seeking for admission for any tertiary education and if one was caught culpable of causing mayhem or vandalising school property while in the SHS, it would be the end of his/her career.
Dr Adutwum said the headmasters would be given the authority to also transfer students to where they might not like when misbehaving on campuses, as indiscipline should not have a room in the education system.
He also cautioned stakeholders, Assembly members and the Assemblies to ensure that school lands were not encroached on or building stores on school lands.
FROM KINGSLEY E.HOPE, KUMASI