Ms. Augustina Nagai, a dedicated French teacher at Wawase R/C Basic School, has been honored as the overall best teacher in the Yilo Krobo Municipality during this year's World Teachers Day celebration.

The event, held in Somanya, recognized Ms. Nagai's outstanding contributions to education.

Ms. Nagai's dedication and passion for teaching were rewarded with a double-decker refrigerator, a prestigious medal, and a commemorative plaque.

With 16 years of experience in the teaching field, she expressed her gratitude for the recognition, stating that her competent skills had earned her the esteemed title.

She urged her fellow teachers to persevere, emphasizing that their hard work would eventually be rewarded. “For the past years that I've been working, I believe my competent skills have proven to my colleagues that I deserve the honor, and that's why I've been adjudged the overall best teacher today,” she said.

The Yilo Krobo office of the Ghana Education Service also acknowledged the contributions of 40 other teachers, including 20 teaching staff, 21 administrative staff, and non-teaching staff. They received various awards, including television sets, medals, plaques, fans, and other valuable items.

Prof. Eric Nyarko-Sampson, Vice Chancellor of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development, served as the Guest Speaker at the event.

He addressed the critical issue of teacher shortages globally and stressed the need for more teachers, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, to meet the demand for universal basic education.

Prof. Nyarko-Sampson highlighted challenges faced by teachers, including financial incentives, high workloads, poor working conditions, limited administrative support, and insufficient teaching resources.

He called for immediate attention to address these issues and urged teachers to focus on developing students' skills and abilities to compete effectively in the 21st century.

Rev. Peter Atta Bilson, Director of the Yilo Krobo Municipal Education Directorate, emphasized the importance of teachers in the development of the region and urged them to accept postings in rural communities to improve students' performance.

Dr. Albert Tetteh Nyarkotey, MP for Yilo Krobo Constituency, acknowledged the challenges faced by educational institutions in the region and pledged to work with stakeholders to address them. He reaffirmed the vital role of teachers in shaping the future of the nation.