Ghana Education Service tasked to correct negative activities among teachers

Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Eastern Regional Minister, has tasked the Inspectorate Division, Guidance and Counseling Unit and Circuit Supervisors of the Ghana Education Service (GES), to put their acts together and correct THE negative behaviour of some teachers in the area.

He mentioned lateness to school, absenteeism, child abuse and exploitation as some of those negative behaviours, adding that while some teachers continued to draw salaries after vacating their posts, others refused to go back to the classrooms after enjoying study leave with pay.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo was speaking at the Eastern Regional Best Teacher Awards ceremony in Koforidua on Wednesday under the theme “Build the Future: Invest in Teachers Now”.

In all, 117 teachers and non-teaching staff who distinguished themselves in 2007, 2008 and 2009 were awarded, with those winning first positions getting double-decker fridges, whiles second and third positions got 21 inches colour television sets each.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo stressed that education is the most profitable investment society could make, adding that it is therefore not surprising that big chunks of the country’s resources were being allocated to the educational sector each year.

He observed that teachers were a very important segment of the human resource and said they had been entrusted not only with shaping the character of the younger generation but also producing the future human resource of the country.

“Indeed teachers control the destiny of the nation and they have the greatest influence on our children. Investing in the teacher now as a way of building the future, therefore, should be a matter of concern for all key players in national development”.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said by way of investment, central government and other key players had committed more resources in so many areas to mitigate the challenges confronting teaching and learning and also to motivate teachers.

He mentioned some of the interventions as the increase in capitation grant for all schools, more resources being channeled into the School Feeding Programme in order to expand it to cover more areas, free supply of uniforms and Exercise books, expansion of infrastructure in schools, as well as incentive package for teachers serving in deprived areas.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo challenged the award winners to be good examples and mentors to their colleagues, especially the young ones in the profession.

Mrs Rene Boakye-Boaten, Eastern Regional Director of the GES, urged the government to continue to motivate teachers to enable them to give of their best.

She observed that the important role teachers’ play in the socio-economic development of the country cannot be over-emphasized Mrs Boakye-Boaten charged teachers to be creative and innovative to help raise the standard of teaching and learning in schools.

Mr Edward Akore of Koforidua Presbyterian Primary “A” won the first prize in the Primary category for 2007, with Miss Beatrice Asante Somuah, of Nkawkaw Presbyterian JHS winning the prize in the JHS category. Mr Eugene Nimako Boateng of the Adweso SDA JHS won the first prize in Basic Mathematics and Science, while Mr Foster Andrew Ofosu of Donkorkrom Agriculture Secondary School got the first prize in Senior High Secondary School (SHS) Mathematics and Science category.

Mr Ebenezer Opoku-Tutu, of Donkorkrom Agricultural Secondary School came first in the SHS general category, with Miss Grace Manubea Ansah of the Presbyterian Women’s Training College (PWTC) coming first in the Training College category. Miss Ellen Bosomtwe of the Donkorkrom District Education office got the first prize in the non-teaching staff category.

Source: GNA