Ghana needs well-trained and motivated teachers – Dr. Essuman
A member of the Council of State, Dr Ato Essuman, has stated that good quality education could not be attained without a well-trained and motivated teaching force.
He said that the central role of teachers in every education reform could not be taken for granted.
The Council of State Member was speaking at the fourth annual congregation of Our Lady of the Apostles College of Education, at Cape Coast on Saturday.
Dr Essuman, who represents the Central Region on the Council and a former Chief Director of the Ministry of Education, said attaining good quality education could be possible through the collaboration of government, parents and teachers.
He said there was the need to address issues of capacity building in the education system, teachers’ commitment to education, which hinged on financial rewards to enable them to give of their best.
Dr Essuman commended the Ministry of Education and the Teacher Education Division of the Ghana Education Service for initiating a programme to integrate the In-Service Training into the education system.
He also commended the two bodies for introducing a new teacher development and management policy, which focuses on specific competences expected from teachers at all, levels in relation to their classroom practice and contribution to school improvement.
Dr Essuman said:”This underscore the point that the strength of a chain is down to its weakest link and that the degree of quality education pointed to the quality of teachers and the requisite support for education delivery, especially, in more deprived regions of the country.”
Dr Essuman, who has instituted a prize for the overall best student, presented a laptop computer to Ms Portia Dufie, the overall best student in Science and Mathematics.
The guest speaker, Mr. Mahama Ayariga, Deputy Minister of Education, indicated that government was committed to the well being of teachers and would do all in its power to ensure that their concerns were addressed promptly.
The Principal of the College, the Reverend Sister Elizabeth Amoako urged the graduands to carry the banner of discipline and commitment to duty high and be positive influence on the children they teach and the community they lived in.
Source: GNA