Kenyan teacher Erick Ademba wins first Continental Teacher Prize

Kenyan teacher Erick Ademba wins first Continental Teacher Prize

A Kenyan is among three African teachers who were on Wednesday awarded the first Continental Teacher Prize by African Union (AU) for their outstanding performance.

Mr. Erick Ademba of Asumbi Girls Secondary School in Homa Bay County was feted alongside Augusta Lartey-Young, from Presbyterian Boy’s Secondary School in Ghana and Gladys K., from a school in Uganda.

The three received certificates and 10,000 U.S. dollars (approx. Ksh.1 million) each at a ceremony held at the AU Headquarters in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa.

The teachers were awarded for achievements including quality teaching; encouraging desirable behaviors; engaging in activities and networks that enhance the social and cultural value of learning; and helping students achieve their long-term career goals, by organizing engagement with relevant agencies and information.

According to the Ms. Beatrice Njenga, the Head of AU Education Division, the Teacher Prize is an important and valuable instrument that contributes to the success of Agenda 2063 and continental Education strategy for Africa (CESA) to enhance visibility and status of the teacher in Africa at all levels from early childhood to tertiary levels including TVET, and promote teaching as a first choice profession.

“It is a key instrument in our efforts to enhance the quality of teaching and learning in Africa. As we celebrate committed leading teachers, we provide an opportunity for sharing best practices that are transforming lives of students and their communities, enhancing learning experiences and building formidable intellectual capital and Africentric knowledge products that will enable Africa to harness its resources for shared prosperity,” she said.

Speaking after the event, Mr. Erick Ademba of Asumbi Girls School, said the prize promotes the image of teaching on the African continent, while motivating African teachers to be innovative.

“It should promote the image of teaching; the teaching fraternity will be able to be promoted because this can enable other teachers within Africa to view teaching differently,” he said.

“The challenges of insecurity has deteriorated the education system in Africa because the education in Africa has been going down as compared to European countries and others, and this one is what I was trying to come up with, trying to improve the teaching image so that teachers in Africa can feel recognized,” Mr. Ademba added.

On his part, Augusta Lartey-Young, one of the three prize winners, said that the prize she won is an outcome of team work and that there are others who have contributed to the achievements.

“I dedicate this award to them and I urge them to continue to work hard; I know they wanted also to be recognized; and I thank everybody who contributed in putting this award; and I know that in the future we are going to see a better and even much better awards for teachers,” she said.

“The challenges of insecurity has deteriorated the education system in Africa because the education in Africa has been going down as compared to European countries and others, and this one is what I was trying to come up with, trying to improve the teaching image so that teachers in Africa can feel recognized,” Eric added.

Additional reporting by Agencies

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