Saltpond (C/R), July 23, GNA - The Mfantseman District Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES) in collaboration with the District Assembly has honoured 22 teaching and non-teaching personnel who distinguished themselves over the past four years.

They were presented with gas cookers and cylinders and coloured television sets for their dedication to duty.

Mrs Justina Esenam Tordjagbo, Central Regional Director of Education, in an address at the presentation cautioned teachers against the use of school hours for their Distance Education Programme lectures. The award covered 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 academic years for teachers in Primary, Junior and the Senior Secondary Schools. "It is good that the teachers should upgrade his or her academic qualification but this should not be at the expense of pupils", Mrs Tordjagbo stated and advised heads of schools to check the habit, which was becoming a problem for the GES.

She commended the award winners and urged them to work harder than before to serve as role models for other teachers.

"The tendency to relax after receiving awards must be discouraged", the Regional Education Director stated.

Mr Robert Quainoo-Arthur, Mfantseman District Chief Executive, said the success of the laudable policies the government was initiating to improve education depended on teachers.

"If the teacher is not actively involved, willing and well-informed and equipped to teach, all the fine ideas and efforts will yield no meaningful result, the DCE stated.

Mr Quainoo-Arthur said, "This award of excellence meant to motivate and boost the morale of teachers to raise the quality of education in the district".

He expressed gratitude to workers who had accepted postings to the District and were working hard without counting the difficulties in the living conditions with special reference to the perennial water problem facing the area.

Miss Vivian Etroo, District Director of Education, commended the District Assembly, the two MPs for the area and other sponsors for making the ceremony possible.

Mr George Kuntu Blankson, MP for Mfantseman East, advised teachers to eschew vices, which tarnished the image of their profession. He said he had pumped the greater part of his share of the District Assemblies Common Fund, into the improvement of educational facilities in his constituency.