Akufo-Addo graduates are worthy ambassadors of free SHS – President declares at National Teachers Awards
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said the high academic performance of the “Akufo-Addo” graduates has justified the effectiveness of the free Senior High School (SHS) policy.
He said the investment his government continues to make in the free SHS is worth it because students of the system are producing brilliant academic results.
The President said this when he addressed the 6th Ghana Teachers Prize 2023 ceremony in Takoradi in the Western Region on Thursday, October 6, 2023.
President Akufo-Addo described the free SHS policy as a model of hope. “ Our hope is an education system that leaves no child behind,” he stated.
Teacher policy
The President said under the government’s new Comprehensive National Teacher Policy, the distribution of laptop computers, enhancement of skill set and institution of appropriate welfare incentives have evidently translated into improved effectiveness of educators.
According to him, the Ministry of Education and the National Teaching Council’s implementation of these policies and programmes at both the pre-service and in-service levels have ensured the sustained production and maintenance of the quality teachers needed in the education transformation agenda.
He noted that, as a mark towards improving teacher quality and skill set, the National Teaching Council (NTC) instituted the Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination which has ensured that graduates recruited to teach have met the professional standards set by the Regulator and that they are fit for purpose in this very important area.
The President explained that “Introducing the GH¢1,200 Continuous Professional Development Allowance, paying an intervention allowance amounting to GH¢65 million for senior high school teachers for the 2022/23 academic year, implementing categories two and three allowances for district and regional directors of education, and ensuring a 30% salary increase for all teachers in 2023,” will go a long way to motivate teachers to deliver more.
Laptops
He also touched on the mass distribution of laptop computers to every teacher to improve the digital skills of teachers. “I have tasked the Minister for Education, personally, to ensure that those few teachers yet to receive their laptops join the overwhelming majority who have received theirs.”
These key interventions, he indicated are a testament to the NPP government’s commitment to the ‘Teacher First’ policy which ensures that “our teachers, who are central to all education reforms, are fully tooled, skilled and supported to deliver quality learning outcomes to support our development aspirations.”
Prizes
Faith Aku Dzakpasu, a teacher at GRETA ‘D’ Shepherd Two Basic School in the Greater Accra region has been adjudged the most outstanding teacher for the year 2023.
For her prize, she was presented with a prototype of a three-bedroom apartment to be built at a place of her choice in any part of Ghana, one million Ghana cedis worth of insurance from the State Insurance Company (SIC) and 1000 exercise books.
The first runner-up award went to Isabella Wussa-Tetteh of Sege D/A Primary in the Greater Accra region and for her prize took home a 4×4 Pick Up truck, one million Ghana cedis worth of insurance cover from SIC and 1000 exercise books.
The second runner-up position went to Fredaus Idi-Amin of Ogbojo Presbyterian Basic School who also took home a brand new saloon vehicle, one million Ghana cedis insurance cover from SIC and 1000 exercise books.
Other awards presented were the Best Junior High School Teacher, Best Primary School Teacher, Best Primary Teacher, Best Senior High, and Best Technical Teacher among others.
Aside from these, a new award was presented to Simon Boateng, from the St. Monica’s College of Education, Asante Mampong for being the Best Tutor from all the colleges of education in Ghana and took home a 4×4 Pick Up truck.
