Ghana’s Most Outstanding Teacher for 2025, Richard W. Tiimob, has underscored the need for a more holistic and learner-centred approach to education in the country, urging teachers to go beyond academic instruction to nurture values, creativity, and practical life skills among students.
Speaking on The Asaase Breakfast Show on Monday, (6 October) Tiimob said his teaching philosophy centres on developing students into “creators of new knowledge” rather than passive recipients of information.
“I don’t consider my learners as tabula rasa. They have a lot of ideas, but if you don’t give them the opportunity, they will not know what they are capable of doing,” he said. “So I direct my learners at the level of actors to ensure they take control of the learning process while I serve as a guide.”
Tiimob, who teaches in the Upper East Region, said his approach focuses on mentorship, international exposure, and community-based learning. He explained that connecting students with peers across the world helps them to “share ideas without feeling limited by their environment,” while community collaboration reinforces the link between the classroom and real-life challenges.
The award-winning teacher also encourages students to use locally available materials to build digital and learning tools, helping them develop problem-solving and innovation skills.
Reflecting on his early motivation, Tiimob said his passion for teaching began in childhood when he developed a habit of learning ahead of class to teach his peers.
“I developed a strategy to learn ahead of time so I could tutor my peers,” he recalled. “Later, I realised that was the foundation God had laid for me to become a teacher.”
Offering advice to aspiring educators, Tiimob stressed that teaching requires more than lesson delivery and assessment.
“If you want to take the universal path as a teacher, you have to take an extra step beyond the classroom,” he said. “You must understand that every learner has unique potential — and it is your duty to identify and nurture it.”
Tiimob’s recognition as Ghana’s Most Outstanding Teacher comes amid renewed calls for improved educational resources in underserved areas and greater investment in teacher motivation and training.
Source: asaaseradio.com
