Accra, Sept. 9, GNA - Mr Alex Tetteh-Enyo, Minister of Education, on Thursday launched the 16th Edition of the National Best Teacher Award Scheme, aimed at appreciating and motivating teachers in the country.

The award scheme, which was instituted in 1995, also appreciates the role played by non-teaching staff of the Ghana Education Service in the delivery of quality education.

Mr Tetteh-Enyo said the launch was a prelude to a series of activities towards the main event scheduled to take place in Koforidua on Tuesday, October 5, to coincide with the World Teachers' Day celebrations.

He said the 16th Edition of the award scheme under the theme: "Recovery Begins with Teachers," would present awards to a total of 49 teachers at the national level and 360 at the regional level.

The Minister thanked all sponsors of the scheme and called on organisations and corporate bodies, which had received letters from the Ministry for sponsorship, to respond favourably to the request.

He also appealed to other organisations and corporate bodies, which the Ministry had not yet reached but were in the position to support, to come forward and do so.

Mr Tetteh-Enyo urged all teachers to rise up to the occasion by working harder to meet the challenges of the time and justify the institution of the award scheme and other incentives.

He noted that 93every now and then, the airwaves, television and print media, carry articles about the downward trend of the quality of education in our public schools with a general cry by all to improve the standard of education in public schools".

The Minister said based on these concerns, it had become more important now than ever to invest in and motivate teachers, who are the bedrock of teaching and learning as well as the drivers of quality education.

Mrs Elizabeth Amoah-Tetteh, Deputy Minister, Pre-Tertiary Education, who is Chairman of the Planning Committee, explained that the awards would be in different categories for both teachers and non-teaching staff from the Polytechnics, Universities, Senior High Schools, the National Service Teachers, Teachers from the Basic Schools, Junior High Schools, Vocational Schools and French Teachers.

Mr Brett Goschen, Chief Executive Officer, MTN Ghana, said the company would donate a Pick-Up vehicle and laptops at a total cost of GH¢142,000 as its contribution towards the celebrations.