Portia Dzifa Dzilah, a teacher at Pakro Anglican Basic School in the Eastern Region, has been named the Sub-Saharan Africa regional winner of the 2025 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards.
She is the first Ghanaian to receive this recognition since the inception of the global award scheme seven years ago.
Her selection was based on her extraordinary commitment to improving the lives of students in Pakro, a rural farming community within the Akwapem South Municipal Assembly. The area struggles with low school enrolment, truancy, and high rates of teenage pregnancy — challenges that Portia has taken head-on through mentorship programmes and initiatives promoting girls’ education and hygiene.
“This recognition is not just about me; it’s about the children of Pakro and every girl who’s ever been told her dreams are out of reach,” Portia said in response to her win. “I became a teacher to do more than deliver lessons — I became a teacher to change lives. Education is a lifeline, and I will continue to fight for every child to have access to it. Because when we invest in our children, we invest in the future of our communities.”
Dzilah, who teaches various subjects at the basic level, has established a gender club and led initiatives focused on food and sanitary health to empower girls in the community. Her nomination stood out among more than 5,000 entries from 101 countries around the world, highlighting the global relevance and impact of her work.
As a regional winner, Dzilah will receive £500 worth of Cambridge educational books for her classroom, a commemorative trophy, and international recognition through Cambridge’s global platforms. She will also be featured on the ‘Thank you’ page of new Cambridge textbooks, set for release in November 2025.
The Managing Director of International Education at Cambridge University Press & Assessment, Rod Smith commended her efforts. “These awards are a yearly reminder that teachers remain the most vital part of delivering a rounded education,” he said. “Technology, no matter how sophisticated, cannot replicate the empathy, creativity, social guidance and sheer inspiration that a great teacher like Portia can provide.”
He added, “In an industry where AI is making all the headlines, it’s uplifting to see the warmth and humanity that this year’s winners have brought to their classrooms.”
Dzilah’s achievement has not only brought honour to Ghana but also positioned her as a global contender for the overall 2025 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Award. The public now has the opportunity to vote for her as the global winner by visiting dedicatedteacher.cambridge.org/vote before the deadline on 30 April 2025. The overall winner will be announced on May 21.
The Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards, organised by Cambridge University Press & Assessment, celebrate educators who go beyond the classroom to shape the future of their communities.
Source: graphic.com.gh
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