Government cannot pay absentee teachers - Veep tells forum
A 36 year-old teacher of the of the Kanton Senior High School in the Upper West region, Mr Mumuni Yahaya has been adjudged the Overall Best Teacher for 2014.
For his prize Mr Mumuni would receive a three-bedroom house to be built at any place of his choice, a laptop and a set of computer and printer for his school.
Mr Mathew Adutwum of the Hooper Special Unit in the Western region was adjudged the first runner up. He received a Nissan Micara saloon car, a set of computer and printer for his school.
Mr Samuel Nsaidoo Aboagye of Kyerekrom M/A Junior High School came third and for his prize received a Kia Picanto saloon car, a laptop and a set of computer and printer for his school.
This year’s teachers awards coincides with the World Teachers Day being celebrated under the theme “Unite for Quality Education.”
In his address, the Vice President, Kwesi Bekoe Amissah Arthur said government cannot continue to pay absentee teachers with the taxpayer’s money.
He said while government was committed to bettering the lives of teachers, the current 11 percent absentee rate in the education service was inexcusable.
He said though the rate had been reduced from 27 percent to 11 percent, the rate was still high and there was an urgent need to work hard to reduce it.
He said he found it unacceptable that the Ghana National Association of Teachers in its address gave personal reasons as some of the reasons for absenteeism. He reiterated government’s commitment to increase the number of trained teachers by providing training for them.
So far he said 26,000 untrained teachers had undergone training programmes to prepare them adequately for the classroom.
The Minister of Education, Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyeman said the contribution of teachers was crucial to national development and said the ministry would make efforts to increase the supply of teachers across the country to meet growing demand for teachers.
She advocated the need to broaden the awards scheme to cover best school awards.
In all 85 individuals and institutions were awarded including foreign volunteers, national service personnel and retired teachers from the host region.
Some of the prizes included double decker refrigerators, LCD Television sets laptops, gas cookers and microwaves.
In the Senior High category, Mr Daniel Arkaifie of Mfantseman Girls in the Central region was awarded the best teacher, followed by Mr Cyril Adda of the Nakpanduri Senior High School came second followed by Emmanuel Kapl of of Mabang Senior High School who came third.
In the Junior High School (JHS) category, Mr Shadrach Bentum of Nyarkrom Methodist JHS came first, followed by Michael Kwame Glalah of Zena K K D JHS in the Greater Accra region followed by Albert Quayson of Atwereboanda D/A JHS in the Western region came third.
In the Primary category, Felicia Nugbley of Biriwa Methodist Primary in the Central region came first followed by Evelyn Somuah of Obo Presbyterian Primary School in the Eastern region while Dorcas Osei of Tongor Tsanakpe D/A school came third.