She elaborated on the overriding objective of the society “bringing together all women teachers committed to the task of supporting and contributing to the implementation of the objectives of GNAT” and emphasized on its achievement. She called on the members to develop activities that would among others make GNAT a dynamic organization, enhance the teaching profession and benefit the community at large. She commended the association for enhancing the continuous development of the female teacher and encouraged the members to take advantage of such programs to upgrade their knowledge and skills to achieve higher educational standards in order to become better professionals and educators. She urged the society to consider and develop programs that would address peer pressure, effective upbringing of children, sex and reproductive health education, family living, home management, child care, etc.

The Minister for Women and Children, Hajia Alima Mahama, in her welcome address pledged her support to the cause of developing the female teacher. She stressed that gender empowerment is not a singular effort which the government recognizes by setting up a Women and Children’s Ministry with a cabinet status. She stated that a strategic plan focusing on women’s empowerment is being developed and hence resources would be made available to efforts in furtherance of this cause. She pledged her Ministry’s support to GNAT-LAS and tasked the female teachers to work at the community levels to empower women and disseminate knowledge-based information. She urged the participants to go back and share whatever knowledge they acquire at the conference with their colleagues who were not present at the conference as well as those who are not members of the association. She also advised the delegates to study the children’s act and educate members of their communities on the rights of the child.

Session Two
With the various addresses setting the scene and tone of the conference, participants proceeded to discuss issues relevant to the efficiency of the female teacher and set the way forward for the association.

Presenting a paper titled “the effective female teacher”, Mrs. Akua Debrah, Regional Director of Education, Brong Ahafo Region, said that the female teacher must serve as a role model for the younger generation to emulate. She accentuated that the presence of an excelling female teacher in the classroom gives confidence to the girl to stay in school since the female teachers’ presence helps make the school a safer place for the girls as they understand the challenges of the younger girls better than their male counterparts.

Mrs. Debrah pleaded with the teachers to guide and counsel; be fair and firm whiles building confidence; lead lives worthy of emulation and strive to establish excellent relations between themselves, the children and the community. She concluded by pointing out the qualities of an effective teacher as one who; transforms knowledge to the level of understanding of the students and pupils; has a high regard for all while helping them transform their weaknesses into strength; work to establish the classroom as a place for sharing ideas and acquiring general knowledge; one who strives to help students achieve higher standards; one who seeks continual self improvement and one who identifies herself with and seeks the welfare of the community she finds herself in. She concluded by calling on the GNAT leadership to revive the dormant “study circles” which she contemplated would help teachers improve on their knowledge.

Mrs. Ewura-Abena Ahwoi, the Eastern regional Director for Education on her presentation “the female teacher as a role model” elucidated that the life of the female teacher must be one that is worthy of emulation. She said in order to be worthy role models, teachers must be tactful, caring, loyal, trustworthy, be able to communicate effectively. Teachers must see their roles as a vocation and by that they would be exhibiting characteristics worthy of emulation by the communities they live in. She further stated that teachers are vessels of change that others would want to follow hence they must strive to bring out the best in each individual they encounter. She spelt out the characteristics of a role model as moral uprightness, hard work, knowledge, honesty, dedication, self-discipline, initiative and foresight, patience, and excellent communication skills.

She called on the female teachers to identify the students’ talents and help nurture them. She recommended the formalization of role modeling and mentoring into pre-service training in all training colleges and tertiary institutions.

The participants in the ensuing discussions called on the establishment of appropriate dress codes within schools for teachers and called on the female teachers to dress decently so that the younger generation would emulate.

The chairperson for the session Mrs. Joyce Agyekum (Head Mistress of Labone Secondary School) stated that an educated woman is a seed for nurturing a new generation and called on the teachers to be well regimented, demonstrate consistency in their work, and each strive to teach an illiterate woman in their community to read and write......More