The New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s Parliamentary Candidate for La Dadekotopon Constituency, Dr. Joseph Gerald Tetteh Nyanyofio, has offered advice to parents and teachers. He urged them to avoid making comparisons and discriminating among the children and pupils they oversee. Dr. Nyanyofio emphasized that such actions could have negative consequences and leave lasting scars on a child’s self-concept.
Drawing inspiration from prominent figures in Ghana’s political history like Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Dr. Ako Adjei, Kwegir Aggrey, and Nii Anyetei Kwakwranya, he stressed the importance of not underestimating the foundational stage of a child’s education. He pointed out that preschool and the basic level of education significantly contribute to a child’s intellectual development.
Dr. Nyanyofio shared his own educational journey, highlighting a period of academic struggle during his early school years, where he faced disdain from families and some teachers due to his academic performance. However, he experienced a remarkable transformation from the basic level through to tertiary education, ultimately earning a Ph.D.
On the occasion of World Teachers’ Day, he encouraged parents and teachers to recognize and nurture the unique talents of each child for the benefit of national development. He emphasized the importance of equal investment in every child’s education.
Additionally, Dr. Nyanyofio challenged children to cultivate qualities like patriotism, discipline, honesty, and hard work while maintaining confidence in their ability to tackle academic challenges. He encouraged them to make wise choices in the present to prepare for leadership roles in the future.
“Be courageous enough to dream bigger than you can even achieve,” he charged them.
He was optimistic about the nation’s future prospects, stating that “if all sectors of our national life fail, but our education system is on track, we shall recover and succeed. On the other hand, if all systems of our state architecture are working, and our education system fails, Ghana can not survive”
He observed “The future of this nation will be determined, not only by what happens at the Ministry of Finance and other key sector ministries, or the University of Ghana and other leading tertiary institutions in the country, but also, what happens in every basic school across the nation