A total of 3721 teachers are expected to be awarded in this year’s National Best Teacher’s Award at both the National, district and circuit levels. The event which is the 17th of its kind since 1995 comes off in Takoradi on 5th October, 2011 and will have the overall National Best Teacher receiving 3-bedroom house, laptop and a set of accessories for his/her school; (1st runner up) 2-bedroom, a set of computer and accessories for/her school; (2nd runner up) a saloon car, laptop and a set of computer & accessories for/her school. The Minister of Education Betty Mould-Iddrisu announced these in Accra during the media launch of this year’s Best Teachers Award. She explained that, 49 teachers will be awarded at the national level, with 360 at the regional level as well as 3,312 at the district level in 17 categories. Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu who expressed appreciation to the sponsors who have pledged to support the Awards in diverse ways also urged other corporate bodies to respond favorably to the ministry’s request for more support. The Education Minister also entreated teachers to rise up to meet the challenges of our times in the teaching profession and justify the institution of the Teachers Award scheme. “I have acknowledged, I have appreciated teachers but let me use this opportunity once again, the teachers amongst you to call on you all; rise up to the occasion, it is not a sacrifice it is a profession that you have chosen to go into. And in anything you do your desire is to rise up to the top and to do an excellent work, we need to justify the institution of this awards, we need to justify all the social policy interventions that government has put in, we need to justify the 31% investment that Ghana is making in education “. Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu who was not happy about recent statistics about poor education delivery and records of pupils/students’ performances urged teachers to abstain from absenteeism and rather stay in the classrooms and teach the children. “They keep saying it, children are the hope of the future, our development rests on the children but it is so true and it is in your hands as teachers: you are the ones who are going to determine the fate of Ghana and the fate of our children, and I urge you all to at least spend your time in the classroom and teach the children, that is all we are asking of you” she retorted. This year’s event has such sponsors as GETFund, MTN, IPMC, RANA Motors, RLG Communication, Top Kings Real Estate, Nayak, INNOLINK, SIC Life and UNICEF. Others are Zepto, GBC, SEDCO, Parry & Co, EPP Books, Qualiplast, Readwide, Kezy Bans Investments, Petfrim Ltd, SOMOTEX, SIC Company, GCB and the media houses. Asempa News spoke with the Executive Secretary of MTN Foundation Robert Kuzoe who said MTN Foundation has since 2007 been sponsoring the National Best Teahers Award. He said MTN is supporting this year’s Teachers Awards with GH¢46,000.