By Elizabeth Abban
Tamale, Nov 28, GNA – Right To Play, an NGO, has honoured some teachers and officials of the Ghana Education Service (GES) and some schools in the Savelugu Municipality, Tolon, and Kumbungu Districts in the Northern Region.
The 40 teachers and GES officials were recognised and awarded for their exceptional dedication, hard work, and commitment to promoting play-based learning in their classrooms in the three implementing districts.
They received certificates of recognition.
Additionally, GES offices in the three districts received two boxes of A4 sheets, three boxes of pens, two boxes of markers, and other writing materials.
Mr Evans Sinkari, Programme Director, Right To Play, speaking at the awards’ ceremony in Tamale, said it was to demonstrate appreciation, motivate, and inspire the teachers and the officials for their hard work and efforts to ensure the implementation of learning through play in their various classrooms.
The awards ceremony also marked the end of the Partners in Play (P3) project, a four-year initiative, funded by the LEGO Foundation with the aim to improve the quality of education for boys and girls in the country through play-based learning.
Mr Sinkari touched on play-based learning and said it promoted quality education as it eliminated tension and unlocked opportunities for social interaction.
He emphasised that “Where there is play, there is no tension. Where there is play, we unlock titles, we unlock positions, and everybody comes to the same ground.”
He urged authorities and leadership of GES to work to sustain the P3 project, which is a play-based learning in schools for the benefit of children.
Madam Vivian Sadia Mahama, Headmistress, Kings School, one of the schools awarded during the ceremony for its exceptional implementation of play-based learning, said the school’s performance had improved since it incorporated play-based learning into its curriculum.
She said, “We have implemented play-based learning in all our activities, and our teachers have been trained to incorporate it into their instructional hours. This approach has not only made learning fun for our children, but it has also helped them to develop essential skills and knowledge.”
Miss Faustina Ayeebo, a teacher from the Savelugu Municipality, who was amongst the awardees, expressed gratitude to Right To Play for its impact on her teaching methods and the lives of her students.
She said she benefited from workshops and in-service training organised by Right To Play on play-based learning, saying they helped her to make her lessons joyful, interactive and meaningful to learners.
She added that “The Savelugu Municipality’s performance has really improved, and our classroom activities have also improved.”
Hajia Katumi Natogmah Attah, Northern Regional Director of Education, whose speech was read on her behalf, urged teachers to remain committed to the project’s goals and continue inspiring one another to achieve great results.
She commended Right To Play and partners for implementing the project, which had a positive impact on the lives of learners and teachers.
GNA