Tamale, May 19, GNA - A social worker has appealed to teachers to be abreast with development issues in the country to help educate the public.

Ms Gladys Afful, Deputy Director (Research) of the Foundation for Future Leaders International (FFLI), a non-governmental organisation, said this on Wednesday at a day's workshop on the ideals of New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) in Tamale. The foundation is an Accra based NGO with the primary aim of helping civil society groups including other NGOs and churches to have better understanding of important issues in the country.

It also organizes public forums on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, cholera and other health related issues. The Tamale program targeted teachers in the Northern and Upper East regions on the role they can play towards the successful implementation of NEPAD.

FFLI organized the workshop with funding from Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Ministry of Regional Cooperation and NEPAD for some 300 teachers on the theme: "Spreading the ideals of NEPAD: The role of the teacher". Ms Afful said NEPAD is a good document aimed reshaping Africa's future through viable economic growth and to overcome poverty but many people saw the document as a political "weapon" and had no interest in knowing its importance.

She said if teachers have a better understanding of the ideals of NEPAD they could help educate the public since they are at the forefront of society.

Ms Afful advised teachers to be models of development and help stop examination leakages to assist fight corruption in the schools and other public institutions. Some participants called for frequent interaction with teachers on such important issues and said teachers are always neglected.