By Emmanuel Nyatsikor
Adaklu Waya (V/R), Dec. 1, GNA – Mrs. Marian Jemima Akua Adzroe, Deputy Volta Regional Director of Education, Friday stated that teachers were not just facilitators of knowledge acquisition but the heartbeat of educational transformation.
“Teachers are nurtures, visionaries and leaders, who shape the next generation of thinkers, innovators and leaders and not just lesson facilitators,” she said.
Mrs. Adzroe stated this in an address she delivered on behalf of the Volta Regional Director of Education at the third Adaklu District Teachers and Educational Workers Awards ceremony at Adaklu Waya.
It was on the theme: “Valuing teacher voices towards a new social contract for education in Adaklu.”
Mrs. Adzroe noted that educational policies ought to be informed by the insights of teachers to ensure their relevance and impact because they have firsthand experience with the realities of the classroom.
She called for their continuous professional development, access to modern teaching tools, and incentives to “empower them to inspire empowered learners.”
She said the introduction of the new Standard-based Curriculum from the Primary to the Senior High School levels was a departure from the traditional objectives-based approach that relied on rote learning and memorization to developing competencies.
She mentioned some of the competencies as critical thinking and problem solving, creativity and innovation, adaptability and resilience, and lifelong learning and global citizenship.
Mrs. Adzroe said the role of teachers was very crucial in the successful implementation of the new curriculum, adding “it is more crucial by the need for digital literacy and its attendant resources.
She noted that a thriving education system required a collaborative effort, strengthening teacher support systems, enhancing community engagement, encouraging teachers to adopt creative teaching methods and rewarding efforts.
She said, “A strong education system is one where teachers feel valued, supported and heard.
“As teachers, parents and stakeholders in education, let today’s event reignite our shared commitment to education in Adaklu.”
Mrs. Adzroe commended Mr. Governs Kwame Agbodza, Member of Parliament for Adaklu who instituted the awards ceremony and called on teachers to be motivated by the ceremony to put in their maximum best.
Mr. Agbodza told the gathering that education was a serious business of nurturing children not only to take the mantle of leadership in future but also to become responsible citizens.
He pledged his commitment and support for education and its related activities in the district and called on the people of Adaklu to put their political affiliations aside and join hands to build the capacity of their children through education.
“The best resource of any country is not its natural resources but its human resource,” he stated.
Mr. Walter Wogbemase Zuh, Adaklu District Chief, on his part, said the Assembly in collaboration with the MP and some NGOs had improved educational infrastructure in the district.
Mr. Prince Akonor, a visually impaired teacher of Adaklu Kodzobi Junior High School, was among 15 teaching, non-teaching staff and volunteers, who received awards at the ceremony.
The award categories were the best Kindergarten, lower primary and upper primary, JHS, SHS teaching and non-teaching, best head teacher, serving in remote area and Volunteers.
Their awards ranged from freezers, fridges, and laptop computers and citations.
Twelve of the prizes were funded by Mr. Agbodza from his share of the MP Common Fund and three from his own resources.
Mr. Akonor, who spoke on behalf of the awardees, thanked the MP and selection committee for recognizing and rewarding their efforts.
GNA