Eleven teachers in the Sekyere Afram Plains District in the Ashanti Region have been honoured at the district's first-ever Best Teachers' Awards Day. The ceremony; held at the district capital, Kumawu, saw David Adu-Sarfo of the Drobonso SDA Primary School emerging the 'Overall Best Teacher.' He took home a double-door refrigerator as his prize. The first runner-up, Ms Juliana Mayina, from the Kumawu RC Primary School, and the second runner-up, Mr Joseph Boakye, received a brand new 2-inch television each. All the remaining awardees took home various prizes. The District Assembly organised the event in conjunction with the District Education Directorate. Addressing the gathering, the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Samuel Asiamah, said the theme for the celebration, “Improving the standard of education through quality teaching and learning,” was a challenge for all stakeholders in educational development in the district to play their part effectively. He said the theme also offered the authorities the opportunity to reflect and recognise the teacher as the driving force for the achievement of quality education. Mr Asiamah stressed the need for teachers to inspire hope in their students. He expressed concern about the fall in standard of education in the district and said only 41 per cent of the 976 junior high school students who sat for the Basic Education Certificate Examination in 2011 passed. The situation, he noted, posed a challenge for “all of us to work at reversing the situation”. The DCE promised his continuous commitment to the development of education. He advised parents to take keen interest in the education of their children, since that was the biggest investment they could make. He also advised schoolchildren to take their studies seriously and shun vices that could ruin their future.