WA, March 30, GNA - Forty-three teachers and non-teaching staff of the Ghana Education Service in the Upper West Region were on Friday given awards after being adjudged the best performers in 2005 and 2006. The best teacher in each of the Primary, Junior Secondary School, Senior Secondary School (SSS), Teacher Training Colleges, Science and Mathematics, Vocational and Technical and non-teaching categories, received a refrigerator while the first and second runners up took home television sets and gas cookers.

In the Primary category for 2005, Mr Moomen Alhassan Yakubu of the T.I. Ahmadiyya Primary School in Wa was adjudged the best with Mr S.K. Paala, Headmaster of Babili Junior Secondary School in the Lawra District coming out as the best teacher. Mr Salia Mahamudu of Kanton Secondary School in Tumu and Ben Nagbilla Buah of N.J Ahmadiyya Training College, in Wa took first positions in the SSS and Teacher Training College Categories respectively.

For 2006, Mr Benson Alhassan of Kusali Primary in the Sissala East District and Reverend Sister Joan Donkpire of Saint John JSS at Funsi in the Wa East District took first positions while Mr Anthony Lanyin of Lawra Secondary school and Mr Baro Primus of Tumu Training College were declared the best in the SSS and Teacher Training college categories. Mr Dumah Kowta of the Wa Municipal Directorate of Education was adjudged the best worker for 2006 in the non-teaching staff category with Mr Christopher Lanidune of Nandom Secondary School taking that position for 2005 in the region.

Mr Ambrose Dery said the teachers were the pivots of the development process and they must assume their proper role in society in the country's march towards development, progress and prosperity. He asked those of them who did not receive awards to see it as a challenge bearing in mind that they could also be winners. Mr Cletus Paaga, the Regional Director of Education, said professional competence, quality of teaching, teacher's knowledge of the subject, participation and contribution to the development of the community were some of the criteria used in choosing the best teachers. 30 march 07