The Northern Regional Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has awarded 52 professional teachers for their commitment to quality education delivery for the 2010/2011 academic year.

Four of them are from deprived communities, and six non-teaching staff members.

The awardees, who comprised of Basic, Junior High School (JHS) and Senior High School teachers across the region, were presented with prizes including double-door refrigerators, coloured Television sets and gas burners at the fifth Regional Best Teacher/Worker Awards 2012, held in Tamale on Thursday.

The Regional Best Teacher/Worker Awards was instituted by the Northern Regional Directorate of the GES with the aim of motivating teachers in the region to give of their best to ensure quality education delivery.

This year’s awards ceremony was on the theme: “Commitment–The Necessary Ingredient for Quality Education and Quality Future,” and attended by District Chief Executives, District Directors of Education, heads of schools, teachers, pupils and students, and officials from the Regional Coordinating Council.

The ceremony also recognized the performance of teachers in districts such as Nanumba North, Zabzugu/Tatale, Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo, Central Gonja, West Mamprusi and Yendi Municipal for improved performance in the Basic Education Certificate Examinations.

Mrs Elizabeth De-Souza, Northern Regional Director of the GES said, “Now more than ever, the region needs committed teachers who will strive and give of their best for all children and will continue to champion the rights of every child placed in our care.”

She said the state, parents, students, and teachers had their respective roles to play though the country had invested a lot in education.

Mrs De-Souza asked “how do we explain schools with classrooms and teachers’ quarters whose teachers are still absent?“

She expressed worry that some communities were interfering with the work of enterprising teachers, and some parents engaging their children in child labour.

Mrs De-Souza congratulated the award winners and said it would motivate teachers in the region to work harder.

Mr. Moses Bukari Mabengba, Northern Regional Minister, whose speech was read on his behalf, said “monitoring reports of school visits have revealed high teacher absenteeism, little time on task and lack of the commitment to work among others are now the order of the day instead of the exception.”

He said there was the need for parents, teachers and students to strive to achieve quality education.

Mr. Mabengba said, “Indeed, education is a shared responsibility. The situation where parents are aloof with regards to the education of their wards should be a thing of the past, since the training we give to them today will determine what they will be in future as adults.”

He assured of government’s commitment to providing the needed resources towards quality education delivery.

Mr. Mabengba mentioned the increase in the capitation grant, distribution of free school uniforms and exercise book to pupils amongst others, as government’s interventions which had brought great relief to parents.

He challenged the teachers to “let these awards you have won today spur you to work harder instead of relaxing at your places of work. You are now going to be measured and judged by the feat you have attained today.”

Mr. Bukari Daniel Aloriweh, a science teacher at Nyong JHS (A) at Karaga, and one of the awardees, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said the awards would spur them on to strive for excellence.

He thanked the Regional Directorate of GES for recognizing their efforts at delivering quality education in the region.

Solidarity messages were also delivered by regional leaders of the Ghana National Association of Teachers, National Association of Graduate Teachers, Teachers and Educational Workers Union and Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools.**