19 students award by John Gatsi Foundation

A total of 19 brilliant students have been awarded by the John Gatsi award foundation at Dzodze in the Ketu North District of the Volta region during the 7th John Gatsi educational awards ceremony.

The overall winners are Ayittey Augustine and the female overall winner goes to Jackson Juliet both of whom were awarded with parcels and GH¢1,000.00 each.

In an interview with the best female student and the overall winner, Jackson Juliet said it took a lot of sacrifice, self discipline and determination to get them to win the award scheme.

According her, she could not win last year and so she had to work harder to become the best this year.

“Last year was not too good for me and so I put in more effort to win the award this time around knowing that I will be able to make to it the top of the BECE, ” she said

Augustine Ayittey who took the overall prize said he was very delighted that he won and has encouraged his peers to also work and take advantage of the John Gatsi awards scheme.

“I want to encourage my friends to also work harder not only for the awards but for a bright future,” Augustine said.

The Ketu north district director of education Madam Mercy Ashiagbor in her speech said the stakeholders must be focused and determined to provide all children at school going age with quality education so that they can become useful to their families and the country.

She said education in the communities can be effective if various stakeholders partner each other having in mind that there is a mutual benefit to be derived by all.

In an interview, the founder of the foundation, Dr John Gatsi , who is an economist and a senior lecturer at the University of Cape Coast, said as a country, the time has come to distinguish between educational expenditure that leads to increase access and those that lead to improvement in teaching and learning as well as quality.

He said, any approach to promote education should invariably result in quality performance outcomes.

According to Dr John Gatsi, quality performance outcomes can only be attained through quality investments in supervision and teacher professional development.

"An investment in incentives for teachers promises to activate enhanced professional delivery in a manner that meets the purpose of education," he said

Dr John Gatsi has however appealed to stakeholders to invest directly into professional development and subject specific training for teachers to enhance overall improvement

He also encouraged students especially female students to pay more attention to the mathematics and science.

Professor Poul Ahiatrogah, who is in charge of UCC distance education in his speech said where there is discipline academic activities thrives

He urged students and teachers to be disciplined in all aspects of their education.

The award scheme which seeks to motivate students in the district and other districts in the Volta region was categorized into A and B.

Some 15 students; Ayitey Augustine from Mac Tetteh, Egyir Michael from Mawuli School Complex, Jackson Juliet from Vihem Mawunyo School, Cofi Hannah Eyram from Mawuli School Conplex, Adenyo Aaron Dela from Bagome Junior High School, Homeku Stella from Mawuli School Complex, Worglo Johnson from Vehem, Yegbe Simon from Vihem Mawunyo School, Ahiafokpor K. Johnson from King of Might, Ahedor Theresa from Mawuli School Complex, Mensah John from Veihem Mawunyo Schoo, Gebu Eyram from Vehem, Zebli Frank Jaures from Mac Tetteh School, Tsadia Charles from Mac Tetteh School and Dzonu Benedicta from Mawuli School Complex all received the awards in category (A)

The remaining students, Tegbey Phanuel from Afife Dzihe, Kugbe Richmond from Afife Dzihe, Awudi K. Desmond from Dzodze Central and Johnson Fabrice Darabo from Penyi No. 1 all received the awards in the category (B)