By Rihana Adam, GNA
Accra, Oct. 11, GNA – The Ghana International School (GIS) has marked 10 years of promoting impactful teaching and learning, with a call on teachers to embrace continuous professional development, collaboration and innovation to improve educational outcomes.
The conference, held on the theme: “10 Years of Impact: Transforming Education, One Teacher At a Time,” brought together more than 1,000 educators, with 95 presenters from Ghana and abroad, to share ideas and explore innovative approaches to education.
The annual conference began in October 2016 with 33 presenters and has grown into a platform for teachers to exchange experiences, learn new skills and develop strategies to respond to the changing educational landscape.
Ms Nadia Bruce-Muller, Principal and Head of School at GIS, said the conference was designed to encourage teachers to continue learning and adapting to changes in education, particularly in the digital age.
She said educators could no longer rely solely on traditional teaching methods, given the rapid changes in technology and the evolving needs of students.
“It is a conference for teachers, but it is also about the idea that we need to grow ourselves, the educational landscape is changing and we cannot continue doing things the same way we used to,” she said.
Ms Bruce-Muller said the conference provided an opportunity for teachers to learn from one another, improve their classroom practices and identify innovative ways to inspire students.
She encouraged participants to remain open-minded and embrace new ideas, noting that the changing world required teachers to continually update their knowledge and skills.
Emerging issues such as artificial intelligence, robotics, trauma-informed safeguarding, differentiated instruction, assessment and teacher well-being were among the issues discussed.
The inclusion of both technology-focused and human-centred topics reflected the need to balance innovation with the emotional, social and educational needs of students, Ms Bruce-Muller said.
The impact of teacher development, she said, extended beyond the classroom, as knowledge gained by educators could influence generations of learners.
She encouraged participants to share experiences, learn from colleagues across different schools and apply practical lessons from the conference in their classrooms.
Madam Naa Komley Scott-Arthur, GIS Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) Chairperson, emphasised the importance of strong relationships between parents and teachers in promoting children’s academic and personal development.
Speaking on the topic: “Beyond the school gate,” she said effective collaboration between parents and teachers was essential to ensuring that children grew into responsible and successful members of society.
She noted that teachers played an important role in shaping students’ character and preparing them for life beyond the classroom, while parents also had a responsibility to reinforce the values and lessons taught at school.
“The ultimate goal is to make sure that the child will be successful in life and that is why the partnership between parents and teachers is very important,” she said.
Madam Scott-Arthur noted that education should go beyond academic achievement to include honesty, discipline, integrity and responsible behaviour.
She urged parents and teachers to work together to help children develop good values, regardless of their social and economic backgrounds.
She said understanding students’ different backgrounds and circumstances would help teachers respond more effectively to their individual needs.
Madam Scott-Arthur also called on teachers to serve as role models, stressing the importance of punctuality, discipline and positive conduct in shaping students’ attitudes.
The conference formed part of efforts to strengthen professional collaboration among educators and promote innovative approaches to teaching and learning.
It reaffirmed the importance of equipping teachers with the knowledge, skills and values needed to prepare students for the demands of a changing world.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe