2013 national best teacher’s school cries for extra classrooms

Authorities of the Nana Amoakwah Model School (NAMS) Complex at Damang, which produced the 2013 overall national best teacher, say the award has triggered an increase in the school’s enrollment, but there are inadequate classrooms to accommodate the numbers.

The Headmaster of the School, Alex Gyan says they had already been compelled to convert their library and a canteen into classrooms. He is appealing to Government, individuals and groups to come to their aid.

The Headmaster disclosed this during a grand durbar to welcome the 2013 National Best Teacher. Chiefs, elders, residents, colleague teachers and pupils of Damang in the Prestea Huni-Valley District of the Western Region joined a float through the principal streets of Damang to welcome the community hero.

Some held placards which read “Prestea is proud of you” and “Prestea Teachers are proud of you” amongst others. 32 year-old Jude Simon Yifah, who teaches English and Citizenship education at the school’s upper primary, won the three-bedroom house valued at Gh¢ 65,000, a laptop and a set of computers for his school at the ceremony in Wa.

He becomes the second winner of the teachers’ award to hail from the same Prestea Huni-Valley District after a visually impaired English Teacher at the Huni-Valley Methodist JHS, won the overall National Best Teacher Award, JHS category in 2011.

The Headmaster of Nana Amoako, Alex Gyan, who praised the award winner, noted that his award had triggered an increase in enrolment, adding the school needs additional classrooms to accommodate the numbers.

“Mr. Jude, you have done something very extraordinary. You have shown courage and you have made the people of Damang proud. No wonder this town is also known as PHD. Now everybody wants to know the whereabouts of this town. And what you have achieved will encourage the teachers here to commit themselves to the job. And because of this award, parents from far and near are bringing their children here to learn under your tutelage”.

“But this has become a burden for me because of inadequate classrooms. As we speak, we have converted our library and canteen into classrooms which is very bad. The chief of this town has given some money for us to build new classrooms but this is not enough so we want government and private individuals or groups to support us to build more classrooms”.

The 2013 Best Teacher admonished his colleague teachers to accept postings to remote areas where their services are mostly needed.

“I want to remind colleague teachers and teacher trainees that it is the tax payers’ money that is being used for their training so when they are posted they should accept it. Those in rural areas also pay tax so they need and deserve our service. They are also human beings so whether there is no electricity, water and hospitals, you need to go there and serve them with a good heart because that service is rewarding” he noted.