Toyota double cabin pickup for first runner-up of Ghana Teacher Prize

The Minister of Education, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has presented a Toyota double cabin pickup to the first Runner-Up of the 2018 Ghana Teacher Prize, Ms Augusta Lartey-Young.

Ms Lartey-Young was declared first Runner-Up at the 2018 Teacher Prize, held in Accra recently.

Dr Prempeh congratulated her and admonished her to lift high the flag of Ghana as she joined the winner to represent Ghana at the World Teacher Awards in Seychelles.

Ms Lartey-Young, who teaches English at the Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School (PRESEC), Legon, expressed her gratitude to the government, the Minister of Education and the National Teaching Council for recognising her efforts.

She received a 4×4 pickup vehicle valued at GH¢130,000, a laptop, educational materials and an insurance cover worth GH¢300,000.

Word of advice

In an interview with the Daily Graphic at the ceremony, Ms Lartey-Young reminded her colleague teachers that the teaching profession was an honourable one and encouraged them to give their best for their students.

She encouraged children, particularly girls, to work hard, reminding them that they were achievers just like their male counterparts.

She attributed her achievements to hard work, consistency, commitment to work, dedication and the desire to see her students excel in every aspect of school.

She shares her award and joy with all the hardworking teachers of Ghana and all who contributed in diverse ways to her success.

Educational background

Ms Lartey-Young started her basic education from Base Ordinance Depot Primary School, Burma Camp, before going to Ghana Secondary School in Koforidua in the Eastern Region for the O’ and A’ Level education from 1989 to 1996. In 1998, Ms Lartey-Young was admitted to the University of Cape Coast and graduated in 2002 with a degree in English and French.

She later continued her education in the 2005/2006 academic year for a Postgraduate Diploma in Education, followed by a Master’s Degree in Education in the 2011/2012 academic year, all from the same university.

In 2016, Ms Lartey got a scholarship with the Department of State to participate in the Teaching Excellency and Achievement Programme at the California State University, USA. That she said had impacted greatly on her teaching methodology and how to cooperate with students and management. In addition, she was made to understand that her work as a teacher did not end in the classroom; hence, she also facilitated a number of workshops for colleague teachers across the country.

She is the patron of the PRESEC Debators and Writers Club, patron of PRESEC Drama Club, patron of the students’ protocol team. She also serves on several other committees of the school, including the 80th anniversary Central Planning Committee, a former head of the Languages Department and current staff representative on the PRESEC School Board.

A mother of two children — Kwaku and Adwoa, Ms Lartey-Young started teaching at Jachie-Pramso Senior High School in 2003 at Jachie in the Ashanti Region. Two years after, she left to the Armed Forces Senior High School in Accra before joining the Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School.