Best Teacher Awards Launched

A total of 82 teachers nationwide will be given awards at this year's National Best Teacher Awards ceremony slated for October 7, 2008 at Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region.

A Deputy Minister for Education, Science and Sports, Mrs Angelina Baiden-Amissah, who announced this at the launch of the 2008 best teacher award scheme, said the number of teachers who would be rewarded this year had been increased by 20.

She said the overall best teacher would receive a house valued at $55,000 while the first runner-up would take home a 1.8 cc saloon car worth $22,000 plus a computer with accessories, with the second runner-up receiving a 1600 cc saloon car worth $18,000 plus a computer and accessories.

The other award winners, she said, would receive computers, double deck fridges, television sets, among other items.

She said apart from the selection of the best teacher and two runners-up, award winners were selected from the basic education, senior high, teacher training vocational and technical institutions with others being French teachers and ICT teachers and the rest being non-teaching staff.

Mrs Baiden-Ammisah said the awards scheme was to give teachers recognition and rewards for good work done, adding that 'the objective of the scheme is to provide a target for teachers to aspire to encourage excellence in professional performance among teachers, provide incentives for teachers to give of their best in their chosen profession.