Global Teacher Prize Winner Urges Ghanaian Teachers to Apply for the 2019 Award

Andria Zafirakou, Global Teacher Prize Winner

June 7, 2018//-Madam Andria Zafirakou, the winner of the US$1 million Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2018 has encouraged Ghanaian teachers to apply for the 2019 award.

She also urged parents and pupils to put forward their most inspirational teacher for the prize on the day that nominations and applications opened.

The Art and Textiles teacher from London, UK, added: Technology is changing the world so fast – with everything from Artificial Intelligence to 3D printing – that children need great teachers more than ever.

“As the world undergoes these massive changes, technology gives us both opportunities and challenges. Only through first class education can we ensure that technology benefits everyone. Only through great teachers passing on knowledge and wisdom will we find the answer”.

Madam Zafirakou continued: “Maths, the sciences and the arts are all equally important for personal growth, self-understanding, and to build the skills that young people will need both now and in the near future. I encourage any inspirational Ghanaian  teacher to apply for the prize, to come forward in order to help showcase and celebrate the great work they’re doing in preparing young people for a future which is hugely unpredictable.

“Since winning the Global Teacher Prize 2018 I have tried to shine a spotlight on the importance of raising teacher respect. I encourage everyone in Ghana, from politicians to parents to support and back teachers  in every way they can”, she stated.

Andria Zafirakou, Global Teacher Prize 2018 winner with HH Sheikh Mohammed bin-Rashid-Al-Maktoum

The Overseas Development Institute (ODI) report Digitalisation and the Future of Manufacturing in Africa published in March, warns increasing use of ever cheaper advanced technologies will wipe out jobs in many sectors.

It added: “With technology increasing at a faster rate than skills, the risk of a skill mismatch is also rising. To increase the development impact of digitalisation, it is crucial for African countries to develop complementary skills. Becoming future-ready involves revising and reorienting the curriculum in African educational institutions around science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.

A special focus needs to be given to technical and vocational education and training (TVET), with better public–private sector collaborations a must.”

Since its launch in 2015, Professor Sitsofe Enyonam Anku, a mathematics teacher at Meagasa Mathematics Academy, Lashibi, Accra, was shortlisted for this year’s Prize, having been selected from over 30,000 nominations and applications from 173 countries around the world.

Nominations opened on Wednesday 6 June 2018, for the US$1 million award, which is now in its fifth year andthe largest prize of its kind in education.  Nominations can be made at www.globalteacherprize.organd the closing date for applications is Sunday 9 September 2018.

If Ghanaian teachers apply, or are nominated and then apply, they could be potentially shortlisted as Top 50 candidates later in the year and their inspirational stories publicised, helping to raise the bar of respect for the profession.

Andria Zafirakou won the 2018 Global Teacher Prize in March this year at the Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai. The glittering award ceremony was hosted by comedian and actor Trevor Noah and included a special musical performance by Oscar-winning actress and Grammy award-winning singer Jennifer Hudson.

Four time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton raced to the ceremony escorted by three Dubai Police supercars to deliver the Global Teacher Prize trophy to the stage and UK Prime Minister Theresa May delivered a special video message to the ceremony thanking Andria for her work.

The applicants for the Global Teacher Prize 2019 will be shortlisted down to a Top 50 (expected to be announced in December 2018) and then a final Top 10 (expected to be announced in February 2019). The winner will be chosen from the 10 finalists by the Global Teacher Prize Academy made up of prominent individuals.

All 10finalists will be flown to Dubai for an award ceremony taking place at the Global Education and Skills Forum in March 2019 where the winner will be announced live.

The prize is open to currently working teachers who teach children that are in compulsory schooling, or are between the ages of five and eighteen. Teachers who teach children age 4+ in an Early Years government-recognised curriculum are also eligible, as are teachers who teach on a part-time basis, and teachers of online courses.

Teachers must spend at least 10 hours per week teaching children and plan to remain in the profession for the next 5 years.  It is open to teachers in every kind of school and, subject to local laws, in every country in the world.

If teachers are being nominated, the person nominating them will write a brief description online explaining why.  The teacher being nominated will then be sent an email letting them know they’ve been nominated and inviting them to apply for the prize.

Applicants can apply in English, Mandarin, Arabic, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Russian.

African Eye Report

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