A teacher of the Savelugu Senior High School in the Northern Region, Richard W. Tiimob, has been crowned the country’s “Most Outstanding Teacher” at this year’s Ghana Best Teacher Awards, held in the Volta Regional capital, Ho, yesterday.
He was adjudged the best from a list of 15 finalists for the teacher category, shortlisted from over 600 applications.
For his prize, Mr Tiimob takes home a three-bedroom house and an educational trip.
The Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, decorated the best teacher with a sache, presented a scholarship and a prototype house to Mr Tiimob who was joined on stage alongside his wife and son.
The first runner up received a 4×4 pickup truck, with the second runner up receiving a saloon car.
The best college of education lecturer received a pick-up truck.
The best teacher in leadership and administration and the best non-teaching staff each took home a saloon car.
All the awardees also received scholarships to further their studies, with the topmost awardees also receiving an educational trip.
Event
The award ceremony, themed “Elevating the Status of Teachers for Quality Education,” brought together dignitaries, educators and stakeholders from across the country.
It climaxed Ghana’s commemoration of World Teachers Day which is marked on October 5, each year.
Also present were the Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Clement Apaak; the Director-General of the National Teaching Council (NTC), Prof. Samuel Ofori Bekoe; the D-G of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Prof. Ernest Kofi Davis; the Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, lecturers, teachers, students and other stakeholders in the education sector.
Sanction for abusers
The Vice-President paid glowing tribute to teachers across the country, describing them as “architects of possibility”.
“As teachers, we must always remember that we are placed in a position of trust, protection and empathy.
The power given to us is to facilitate learning,” she said.
“Our children look up to you not only for knowledge but also for character, discipline and values,” she said, adding that teachers were “the true architects of social mobility” who transformed classrooms into launchpads for the future.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang underscored the pivotal role educators played in shaping the nation’s future.
However, she cautioned that their position of trust came with the highest responsibility.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, however, warned teachers and other leaders in educational positions of authority who abused young people that the government would not hesitate to apply sanctions against them as it amounted to the violation of the sacred trust placed in them.
“We will not hesitate to sanction those who violate this trust.”
She expressed concern about growing reports of violence and indiscipline in schools, adding that the Ministry of Education and the leadership of the Ghana Education Service would deal decisively with attacks on teachers, especially physical assaults.
PTA
The Vice-President announced that the government would revive Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) to strengthen community involvement in the upbringing of learners.
She also gave the assurance that the government would deepen collaboration with teacher unions to address sector challenges and also support the NTC to regulate the teaching profession to raise standards.
“The government greatly appreciates the level of collaboration between us and our teacher unions thus far, especially our frequent meetings and social dialogue,” she said.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang acknowledged the challenges facing the education sector, and paid glowing tribute to teachers across the country for their creativity and commitment, and called on them to continue serving with integrity.
Reforms
On reforms to support the profession, Prof. Agyemang outlined initiatives such as the National Digital Teacher Training Programme, which had equipped over 60,000 educators with pedagogy, digital literacy and inclusive education skills.
She also highlighted measures to reduce stress among teachers in the secondary sector, how to ensure provision of meals and to incorporate teacher accommodation in new schools.
The Vice-President cited recent training on mental health and psychosocial well-being for pre-service teachers, describing it as vital for sustaining the profession.
Conditions of service
The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, said the government would work to improve the conditions of service of teachers and improve their welfare.
“We know that you are paid very low but under a reset agenda we will right some of those wrongs,” Mr Iddrisu said.
The Minister of Education added that the government was reviewing the pre-tertiary educational curricular so that integrity would become an essential part of the training.
To the teachers, Mr Iddrisu reiterated the advice for them not to abuse and take advantage of learners, saying that was unacceptable, and as such would be punished.
He said since no teacher was above the law, any of them found operating below the acceptable standards must face the ruthless and highest sanctions of the laws of the educational sector, charging the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service to be reminded that the law of the state was behind him whenever he applied the law.
To the students, the Minister of Education asked them to behave, stressing that teachers and parents were moulding their character. The future is yours, but be disciplined, and with hard work the future will remain yours,” he stated.
Gratitude
Mr Tiimob expressed deep gratitude to God, his family, students, colleagues and the school leadership.
“Teaching has always been more than a profession for me; it is a calling to inspire, mentor and transform lives. This achievement reflects the collective efforts of my students, colleagues, school leadership, and all stakeholders who support quality education,” he said.
“Let us continue to innovate, elevate and inspire every learner so that we can build a Ghana full of ambition and excellence,” Mr Tiimob added.
