Sunyani Oct. 1, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor will honour 39 teachers in 13 categories at different levels of education and non-teaching personnel at the 14th National Best Teacher Award ceremony to be held at the Jubilee Park in Sunyani on October 07. Mr. Abraham Kwadwo Kwakye, Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, said at a press conference to launch the programme that the national ceremony would be part of the celebration of World Teachers' Day. The global theme for this year's Teachers' Day celebration is "Teacher Education Policies", while the slogan is "Teachers Matter" that incidentally is the theme for the national celebration.

"The theme emphasizes the unique contributions of teachers to societal development, highlighting the provision of quality education to ensure that poverty and ignorance is nipped in the bud", he said. The national best teacher will receive a house worth GHC50, 000, while a vehicle each worth 22,000 dollars and 18,000 dollars respectively will be given to the first and second runners-up. In addition, each of them would be given a computer while their respective schools would also be given a computer each. Mr. Kwakye said there would also be awards for the winners in the categories of Primary, Junior High and Senior High, as well as the non-teaching staff.

The ultimate winners will each be given a double-door refrigerator while the first runner-up and the second-runner-up will each be given 21-inch television set and gas cooker respectively. HH said 40 retired teachers had been selected from all the districts in the region for special awards of ghetto blasters and cash. As part of the ceremony the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) would provide a uniform, canvas boots and a bag containing some learning materials to some needy pupils. "In addition, the GNAT is awarding two of its local secretaries with Honda motor-bikes in recognition of their impressive performances on the ground and these are innovations in this year's ceremony", he said.