Madam Celestine Sewoenam Korsi-Agordo, the South Tongu District Director of Education, has encouraged teachers across all sessions of the education divide to integrate play into their learning modules.
She said the motive was to empower children and activate their physical wellbeing and offer respite to offload stress.
Madam Korsi-Agordo made the call during a ceremony to mark the International Day of Play, which was championed by Right to Play Ghana, a non-government organisation working to help children to rise above challenges, at Abor R.C. School, in the Volta Region.
She urged teachers, particularly those at the Basic level to keep observing children critically on what they loved doing to inculcate them into their classroom activities.
“There is no strict observance of the timetable, it is situations at the time that should determine how you structure your lesson, hence the need to make time for play activities as well”
The 2024 International Day of Play by the United Nations General Assembly was observed by Right to Play, Ghana in the Volta Region for four beneficiary Districts namely, Keta, Anloga District, South Tongu, and Akatsi South Municipality.
Madam Korsi-Agordo expressed her satisfaction over the celebration. She explained how important a play-based classroom could be to both learners and facilitators towards goal achievement.
“Play in learning is not only for learners but for teachers too, because it also helps them to enjoy whatever they are teaching in the classroom. It helps the teacher to critically observe and directly interact with the pupils”
“You cannot have a whole lesson of one hour or more without any form of play to create that innovative classroom for the child, particularly at the primary level.
She said a classroom without any form of play rendered it unattractive, urging teachers to embrace the idea of making the learning environment more creative, innovative, and play orientated.”
Madam Korsi-Agordo further pledged to implement plans to imbibe play into all classrooms across her District, which would lure children to have an interest in education.
She also explained that children needed time to play since it is a fundamental right that helped to build their resilience and instills confidence in them.
This year’s event was on the theme; “The Role of Play in Educational Transformation, Community Development Initiatives, and Holistic Development.”
More than 300 learners from beneficiary schools were involved in various forms of play activities and games including bouncing castles, giant tunnel slides, mountain climbers, volleyballs, netball, table tennis, football, and others.
Directors of the beneficiary Districts who witnessed the event pledged to integrate play into their classrooms, respectively.
Mr. Maxwell Denakpor, the Right to Play Volta Project Officer and other stakeholders in the education sector across the four districts were in attendance to mark the day.
