<<Print>>

A 35-year-old catering teacher of the Abeka Motorway One Junior High School in the Greater Accra Region, Ms Irene Essel, has been adjudged the National Best Teacher at the 15th National Best Teacher Awards ceremony held in the Ho yesterday, October 6, 2009. Ms Essel, who was beautifully dressed in Kente, received a cheque for GH�60,000 from the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) to put up her own house, computers and accessories for here own use and for her school, a certificate and a citation. In addition, she will be sponsored by EPP Books and Services to pursue a postgraduate course in any country of her choice. A 31-year old teacher of the Lari Banga D/A Primary School in the Northern Region, Siaka Aminu, came second and received a Nissan 4x4 pick up donated by MTN, computers for himself and his school, as well as a certificate and a citation. Mr Reynolds Justice Quarshie, 50, a teacher at the Obrakyere Senior High School in the Central Region, came third and took home a Greely salon car donated by Modern Auto Services Limited, computers for himself and his school, in addition to a certificate and a plaque. The Vice President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, presented the awards to the three winners at a colourful ceremony that was graced by officials of the Volta Regional Co-ordinating Council, educationists, teachers, chiefs and people of Ho. There were 36 winners in 12 categories, three foreign volunteers, 10 national service persons and 30 retired teachers from the Volta Region. The positions in all categories went with an award of computers and four-burner gas cookers; the second positions went with double-door fridges and television sets, while the third positions went with gas cookers and single-door fridges. �Special allowances package this year Teachers in deprived areas, as well as those who teach Science, Mathematics, Technical and Vocational subjects will start enjoying special allowances from this academic year. The policy will be in line with the teacher allowances package as proposed in the manifesto of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2008 elections. President John Evans Atta Mills announced the package in an address read on his behalf by the Vice President, Mr John Mahama, at the 15th National Best Teacher Awards and World Teachers Day Celebration in Ho yesterday. It was on the theme, �Build the future; Invest in teachers now.� The President also encourage teachers to take advantage of distance education as a convenient alternative for upgrading themselves, since it is one of the government�s motivational packages for teachers. �The government�s financial support on this programme to cover tuition fees will be maintained and enhanced periodically,� he emphasised. On the theme for the celebration, the President explained that one of the objectives of the educational reforms was the attraction of dedicated and competent persons, adding that attracting competent candidates into the teaching profession, retaining highly qualified teachers by providing support and incentives and ensuring student access to high quality teaching had been and continued to be the dream of Ghanaians.