Koforidua, Sept. 24, GNA - Twenty-one teachers and three non-teaching staff in the Eastern Region were on Thursday presented with the 2003 Eastern Regional Best Teacher Award at a ceremony at Koforidua. Each of the first prize-winners received a double-door fridge, a gas-cooker with oven to the second prize while a 20" television set went to the third prize winners, respectively.

The New Juaben Municipal teachers topped with six award winners out of the eight-categories, followed by Kwahu South and Kwaebibrem with four, Akuapem North with three each, Manya Krobo and Birim South had two each while Asuogyaman, West Akim and Suhum/Kraboa/Coaltar had one winner each.

Mr Mathias Tsatsu Kudiabor and Mr Albert Gbenyo both of the Pope John Secondary School/Junior Seminary took away the prizes in Second-Cycle Science and Senior Secondary School(SSS) prizes, respectively.

In an address read on his behalf, the Eastern Regional Deputy Minister, Mr Gustav Narh-Dometey, noted that good infrastructural facilities and provision of teaching and learning aids alone would not make a good school but a dedicated teach could make the difference. He assured teachers that the government was doing all it could to create a congenial atmosphere for them to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently.

Mr Narh-Dometey cautioned teachers against indulgence in absenteeism, drunkenness and sexual misconduct with school girls, saying, "the noble teaching profession has no place for such bad nuts."

He announced that as part of the fulfillment of the government's policy to provide quality education in all parts of the country through the model school approach, Manya Krobo, Nkawkaw and Donkorkrom Agricultural Secondary Schools are to be developed into model schools under the phase two of the programme, adding that the Oda and Oyoko Methodist Secondary Schools were considered under the first phase. On vocational and technical education, the Deputy Minister announced that the government had put in place two big Vocational/Technical Resource Centres at Koforidua and Abetifi.

The Eastern Regional Director of Education, Mrs. Ewurabena Ahwoi, who reminded teachers that the institution of the awards scheme was a challenge to them, asked winners to form an association at district, regional and national levels to enable them utilize their expertise to benefit all parts of the country.

Mr George Diko, Birim North District Director of Education, who chaired the function, urged teachers to accept postings to all parts of the country to make their services available to the nation.