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Bismark Kwame Tunu, a dedicated Chemistry teacher at Opoku Ware Senior High School, has been honored with the prestigious African Union Continental Best Teacher Award. This recognition was bestowed upon him, along with seven other exceptional educators from Kenya, Mauritania, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Nigeria, and South Africa, during a special event commemorating World Teachers’ Day. The event was jointly organized by the African Union Commission and UNESCO IICBA.
In an interview following the award, Mr. Tunu shared his mission of bridging the gap between classroom learning and practical laboratory applications. His passion lies in ensuring that what is taught in schools is closely linked to real-life laboratory experiences.
The pressing need for quality educators across African nations is underscored by estimates indicating the requirement for millions of teachers to meet the demands of rising educational attainment and population growth. Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals also necessitates a substantial increase in the number of qualified teachers.
This challenge is exacerbated by the fact that teaching may not always be viewed as an attractive profession, and many educators currently lack the necessary qualifications.
The African Union Commission established the Continental Best Teacher Award in 2019 as a means to honor exceptional educators, elevate their status within society, and showcase the transformative impact of dedication and innovation on the lives of students.
As outlined in a report by the International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa, teacher awards play a crucial role in celebrating the unique contributions that educators make to their students, communities, and societies at large.
Mr. Tunu, whose mother also pursued a career in education, revealed that his love for teaching was ignited at the young age of nine. During his mandatory national service at the South Suntreso Government Hospital, where he worked as a biomedical scientist, he took the initiative to explain complex concepts and testing principles to students undergoing training at the hospital.
After completing his postgraduate studies, Mr. Tunu successfully passed the teacher recruitment examination and was subsequently posted to Nsawkaw State Senior High School, where he embarked on his teaching journey.
Despite the challenges associated with teaching, Mr. Tunu finds immense satisfaction in the positive impact he makes on the lives of his students. Expressing his concern about the lack of collaboration between industries and schools, he shared his aspiration to connect his students with industrial settings, allowing them to apply classroom knowledge to practical, real-world applications.
