Kumasi, May 27, GNA – Mr Samuel Pyne, the Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, has lauded teachers as holders of the key to national development and crucial in the country’s quest for quality education.
He said teachers played a critical role in nation building, therefore, they must be recognised, supported, motivated and equipped to effectively carry out their duties to achieve the quality the country yearns for the education sector.
Any government or society that underestimated that reality was bound to find itself in a perpetual cycle of under-development and poverty, he said.
“It is in the light of this that the Government is committed to ensuring that secondary education is accessible to all, irrespective of financial status or background,” he noted.
Mr Pyne was speaking at the 2021 Metro Best Teachers/Schools awards in Kumasi to recognise hardworking staff and individuals for their enormous contribution to quality education delivery within the Metropolis.
It was on the theme: “The role of stakeholders in promoting quality education.”
The programme was to appreciate, motivate and encourage the teachers to continue to give their best to improve the performance of students in the Metropolis.
He said education was the key to transforming the society, improving the socio-economic well-being of the people and basis of all aspects of development.
Mr Pyne gave the assurance that the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) would not hesitate to support programmes to adequately resource and motivate teachers to acquire more knowledge.
“The KMA will also help upgrade their skills, and improve their welfare, to motivate them to perform better.”
He urged teachers to take advantage of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat and Local Scholarship Scheme through the Assembly to receive financial support to upgrade their skills.
He congratulated the award winners and entreated teachers to continue to strive to improve upon learning outcomes.
Ms Mary Owusu Afriyie, the Ashanti Regional Director, Ghana Education Service, said education remained the cornerstone of a progressive society, hence the need to appreciate those responsible for training the human resource.
She advised the teachers not to relent in researching to be abreast of new methods of teaching, especially in digital literacy, to make good use of ICT in their teachings.
Mr David Oppong, the Metropolitan Director of Education, said the awards were to recognise the commitment of teachers to work and also honour individuals who continued to support the schools in the Metropolis.
Mr Attah-Kyeremeh Junior Jonas, a Science Teacher at Bantama Methodist JHS, received the Overall Best Teacher Award, taking home a certificate and a deep-freezer.
Other categories were best teaching and non-teaching staff, best science teacher, best head teacher, best KG teacher, best primary teacher, best teacher JHS/SHS.
Schools that were also recognised were Opoku Ware SHS and M/A JHS, Bohyen Muslim Community School and Amankwatia M/A JHS B.
Source: Ghana News Agency
