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Pulse Ghana in conversation with 2016 National Best Teacher
Oppong, who has been a teacher for 18 years, emerged the winner at a ceremony in October in Sunyani attended by President John Mahama. Oppong is a teacher at the Nii Sowah Din 2 Junior High School in the Adentan Municipality.
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The mother of four attended the Agogo Presbyterian Training College and has a master’s degree in Arts and Culture from the University of Education- Winneba.
Pulse Ghana caught up with Rita Oppong (RO) at her school for an exclusive interview.
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Pulse: Congratulations Rita! Let’s start off with how you felt when your name was mentioned.
RO: It was a big surprise! Although we knew we are award winners, they will never tell you what award you have won or if you are the first runner up or second runner up. So I was excited when my name was mentioned. I shouted Awurade meda w’ase (Thank you God). I even thought it was for the vocational and technical category not knowing it was for the overall best teacher. I hugged my husband, who was just sitting by my side. Then I was taken up the stage to the president. I shook hand with the president and talked with him. I was just so happy.
Pulse: So what did President John Mahama say to you?
RO: The president asked me, ‘where is your school located’? I told him where he was. And then he said, ‘such as a small school with very good teachers.’ Then he said it was great that not only the big schools were winning awards, but a small school like mine could win such an award so we should keep it up. I also told him, I have recently been transferred to the new Frafraha community senior high school and he entreated me not to stop with what I have been doing and that I should do more things at my new school.
Related: Teachers Posting: Education Ministry posts 16,432 new teachers
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Pulse: Why did you become a teacher?
RO: I became a teacher because I wanted to impart on the next generation. I want them to acquire skills so that in future they may become professional men and women in order to help the nation and not to become a burden on society.
Pulse: Tell us about your first teaching experience?
RO: I have been teaching for 18 years. But my first teaching experience was in Akutuase, a village in the Eastern Region. I was married and my husband was in Accra. I had just had my irst child, Lois, too. So it was not easy for me at all. I had to shuffle between Accra and the village every weekend. The village had no social amenities; no electricity, treated water or tarred roads. I was there for three years before I went to further my education.
Pulse: So what does it take to be a national best teacher?
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RO: This award means a lot to me. That is because I feel like the work I do has been recognised. One thing as teachers we ought to know is that, teaching does not end in the classroom. We should always extend it outside the class to people in the community.
For example, I organise unemployed people within my community and train them to acquire basic skills in beadwork. I also help those who cannot further their studies after junior high school, I try to give them skills in printing, Batik tie-dye so that they can get something doing and gather some capital to attend a vocational school.
Every teacher is a potential best teacher winner. If you bring out your best, treat the children that we teach as your own children and handle them well, in future you can also become like me. We should try to leave a legacy so make an impact in the school before you leave.
Pulse: What style of teaching does Rita Oppong have; strict or easy going?
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RO: No. I would describe my style as democratic. You should not be too strict, because it will scare the children away from opening up and discussing issues affecting them with you. And don’t be too laissez-faire. So I have a mixed approach with the children I teach.
Pulse: Let’s go back to the award. What did you win?
RO: I received a 100,000 cedis and that money will be used to build the three bedroom house, to be built at an area of choice. I also got an insurance cover of 500,000 cedis, a laptop and a certificate.
Pulse: So where do you want the house to be located?
RO: I want my house to be built in Adenta or its environs. I have been transferred to the new community day senior high school. My family is already here so it will be a lot more convenient for me.
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Pulse: Back in the class, one of the pupils told us you always encourage the girls to become achievers. Can you tell us about your work in that area?
RO: Yes I do. I am the girl child facilitator in the school. We normally meet on Thursday and we have role model conferences where we invite successful women in the society to share their views. We also discuss issues about teenage pregnancy, how to avoid getting involved with men at a young age and how to become professional women in future.
The first runner up Samuel Kofi Boateng of the Ghana Senior Technical School in the Western Region and Suleiman Inusah of Sacred Hearts Senior High School in the Brong Ahafo Region were each rewarded with a car.
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