October 2020 saw World Teachers’ Day which also marked the 2020 Ghana Teacher Prize.
The theme for this year was ‘Teacher Leadership in Developing Crisis Education Response’. And we were honoured to be asked by the National Teaching Council to contribute to the awards for the National Best Pre-Primary Teacher.

It was an exciting weekend for Sabre Education as we mounted an outstanding display, showcasing our work and demonstrating a model kindergarten classroom based on the new active, play-based kindergarten curriculum. The event was held at University of Cape Coast and started on Saturday 3rd October with a symposium on Saturday and Sunday. Monday 5th October was for the Grand Durbar for the presentation of the awards. The durbar was chaired by the Minister of Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh. The Central Regional Minister, Honorable Dr. Kwamena Duncan represented the President and read a speech on his behalf. The day ended with a dinner at the residence of the Regional Minister at which Sabre Education made a presentation to the winner of National Best Pre-Primary Teacher Award, Felicia Ahoto from Kpando Kpodzi E.P. Primary School in Kpando Municipal, Volta Region.

Sabre’s exhibition received more than 40 visitors. Many of them were interested in and curious to learn more about Sabre’s approach of working with the Ghana Education Service in the districts to train kindergarten teachers, head teachers and Ghana Education Service district officers in active play-based pedagogy and in positive behaviour management. The teachers and head teachers who visited our exhibition wanted to learn more from our team on how they could go about implementing the play-based approach in their own classrooms and schools. Dignitaries who visited the Sabre exhibition stand included members of the National Teaching Council, Regional and District Directors of Ghana education service, a tutor from Accra College of Education, staff of SIC Life Insurance, media representatives from the Ghana Broadcast Corporation, and police officers.

We were really proud to see that Regina Tetteh, one of the teachers who benefited from both our pre-service and in-service training was among the finalists, the top ten teachers shortlisted for the ultimate award of National Outstanding Teacher. Though she did not win the award, being among the top ten finalist out of nearly 250,000 teachers in Ghana is definitely an achievement that needs commendation.

Some of the comments shared by visitors to Sabre’s exhibition are:
I love your approach to teaching and the classroom setup. I am taking pictures to share with my kindergarten teachers. Rita A Aglah, Head teacher of St. Mary’s Anglican, Eyifua- Cape Coast.

In fact, I have learnt something from the exhibition and think this approach needs to be adopted by all kindergarten teachers in Ghana because it will help learners to learn from their own. Diana Dasu, Top Ten Finalist, Faaman R/C KG. District: Jaman Southmunicipal in Brong Ahafo Region.

From all of us a Sabre Education, we’d like to say a huge congratulation to the finalists and the award winners.