Wenchi (B/A), Dec. 22, GNA 96 Madam Ibrahim Bintu Farizana, Wenchi District Chief Executive, has urged teachers to regard themselves as social mentors and exhibit behaviours worthy of emulation by their students.

Madam Farizana was addressing a meeting of teachers in the District at the best teacher and worker award ceremony organized by the Assembly at Wenchi.

She deplore d the practice by some teacher to indulge in alcoholism, truancy, wee smoking and other immoral behaviours, saying those attitudes had made the teaching profession to lose its honourable status.

The DCE said the important role of teachers in the provision of quality education could not be downplayed and appealed to them not to relent in their efforts to improve educational standards. Madam Farizana announced that the government appreciated teachers' contributions to national development and had provided awards and incentives to boost their morale.

She added that the construction of bungalows and school blocks was a clear testimony of the government's determination to provide quality education.

The DCE announced that the District Assembly had been sponsoring a number of teacher trainees and students in second cycle schools. Mr Yaw Manu-Yeboah, District Director of Education, commended the government for the introduction of the capitation grant, noting that the policy had brought a remarkable increase in school enrolment in the District.

He commended the 14 award winners for their hard work and paid special tribute to Madam Farizana for being very supportive towards the organization of the ceremony.

He said the District Education Directorate would extend the award programme to cover basic school heads, best school management committees as well as best PTA and best education service officials. Mr Joseph K Dzorgbenu of Wenchi One A and Two B Primary School was the Best Teacher in the primary division, while Mr Richard Anane of St. Joseph's JSS was adjudged the best at the JSS level and Miss Dorothy Lawson of Koase Secondary Technical School, best in second cycle schools.

Mr Stephen Agyemang of Nkonsia received award as the best in mathematics and science at the JSS level and Mr Soale Yahaya of Wenchi Secondary School was best in the same subject at the second cycle schools level while Mr Anthony Frimpong of Koase Secondary Technical was adjudged the best worker, a non-teaching staff member. Their awards included table top refrigerators, bicycles, Sanyo tape recorders and electric stoves. 23 Dec. 06