Yinson in collaboration with the Ahanta West Directorate of Education has organised a second Phonics training programme for 170 teachers in the Ahanta West Municipality.

The weeklong training sought to equip the teachers with skills to enable the school children to read very well and to enjoy reading.

The teachers were selected from kindergarten and lower primary classes across 98 schools in the Ahanta West Municipality.

More than 80% of the teachers who attended the programme had never had any training in Phonics, with about 97% of the teachers who attended being female.

Author Samelia Bawuah in her remarks, explained to the teachers that “Phonics, is all about sounds and blending of words that enable children in their formative years to read, write and be able to pronounce words”.

She indicated that each child has a unique way of understanding. “Use the alphabet to teach them, let them know the sound. We have those who get it fast and others who gradually pick what you teach”.

According to her, the foundation of every child is very important; “get them involved, no child should be left behind and you must have patience, to enable them to grasp whatever you teach them”.

"The learner should see, hear, smell, and feel the enthusiasm to make a difference in the life of a child they have been entrusted with," she said.

A representative of the Ahanta West Director of Education, Aloysius Boadi, said that providing the teachers with the necessary tools and knowledge is essential for the holistic development of the students.

"Phonics is one such crucial aspect that lay the foundation for effective reading and language skills," he added.

The Corporate Social Responsibility Coordinator at Yinson Ghana, Edward Mensah, explained that “the Phonics training is the second edition to be held in the municipality. The 10 teachers who benefitted from the first training programme gave us good feedback and so we decided to carry out the programme for many teachers across the entire municipality."

The programme, he said, is in line with Yinson’s mission of promoting quality education and effective learning. "Much as this programme is meant to impact the children, it will also place enormous value on you as teachers."

Yinson Production specialises in the provision of integrated services for Floating, Production, Storage, Offloading, (FPSO) and Floating, Storage, and Offloading, (FSO) units.

Madam Juliet Ewuradjowa Abraham, a teacher at Ewusiejoe M/A Basic ‘A’ said the Phonics training will enable her to teach the students, the pronunciation of words.