Akropong-Akuapem (E/R), Aug 12, GNA - The Senior Minister, Mr J. H. Mensah, has observed that, the United Nations (UN) Millennium Development Goals (MDG) are not sufficient to meet the aspirations of Ghana's development agenda.

He observed that, achievement of universal primary education, eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, reduction in child mortality among other targets by the year 2015 as spelt out in the UN MDG would not provide the country with the human resource base to advance, catch up with universal wealth creation and social welfare.

Mr Mensah was speaking at the launching of the 10th Anniversary and fund raising towards this year's Best Teacher Awards scheduled for October this year at Akropong-Akuapem on Thursday.

He said that to achieve the national development agenda, the government was advocating for an educational reforms, which would provide universal mass accessibility and a departure from the previous system, which was concentrated on a classroom-based education for the middle class and urban population.

The Minister for Education and Sports, Mr Yaw Osafo Maafo, said the reward of teachers should be on earth and not in heaven and stated that the government considering what to do to motivate teachers. He said the government believed that if the new education reform programme was to succeed, there was the need to start with the training of teachers.

Mr Osafo Maafo said the Ministry of Education was working on a policy to come out by September this year for the accreditation of some Teacher Training Colleges including the Akropong Presbyterian Training College as Science and Mathematics Colleges.

He said other Teacher Training Colleges would be accredited to teach French in addition to the two already in the country. Mr Osafo Maafo said that the Ministry had agreed with Training Colleges to organise sandwich courses during vacations for trained teachers to acquire diplomas.

He said this year's Best Teacher Award would include those from Technical and Vocational Schools.

Mr Osafo Maafo said the Inspectorate Division of the Ministry would be revamped to ensure the quality of teaching and learning in public schools was improved to surpass the standard of private schools. He expressed thanks to all institutions, which had supported the Ministry in the organisation of the Best Teacher Awards Schemes over the years.

The Managing Director of Barclays Bank, Mrs Margaret D. Mwanakatwe, called on corporate organisations to co-operate with the government in the rewarding teachers. An appeal for funds yielded over 528 million cedis with 10 computers pledged.