Pakro Teacher Portia Dzifa Dzilah Earns Global Teaching Honour
Portia Dzifa Dzilah, an English teacher at Pakro Anglican Basic School in the Akuapim South District of Ghana, has earned global recognition by winning the 2025 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Award. Her historic achievement marks the first time a Ghanaian has received this prestigious international honour.
Portia Dzifa Dzilah emerged as the global winner after securing 33% of the global public vote, surpassing eight other regional finalists from around the world. Organised by the International Education division of Cambridge University Press & Assessment, the awards celebrate educators who go above and beyond in shaping the lives of their students. Her win stands as a testament not only to personal excellence but also to the profound impact of passionate teaching in under-resourced communities.
Operating in Pakro, a remote farming community in Ghana’s Eastern Region, which grapples with socio-economic issues such as teenage pregnancy and high absenteeism, Portia Dzifa Dzilah has committed herself to transforming the lives of her students. Her work has included initiating food and sanitary product drives, as well as establishing a Gender Club to promote girls’ education and reduce dropout rates.
What began as regional recognition quickly evolved into a moment of national celebration. Portia Dzifa Dzilah received a surprise video call from Rod Smith, Group Managing Director of International Education at Cambridge, informing her that she had not only won the Sub-Saharan Africa regional award but had also been named the overall global winner. The announcement was followed by a community celebration at her school, attended by representatives from Cambridge, local education authorities, and members of the wider Pakro community.
In response to the award, Portia Dzifa Dzilah expressed her appreciation for her students, describing them as her most significant source of inspiration. Their strength, curiosity, and determination reinforce her purpose as an educator and deepen her belief in the potential of every child. She described education as a tool capable of breaking cycles and opening doors and viewed the recognition as a renewed call to her mission. She dedicated the award to every girl who has stayed in school despite challenges and to parents who continue to believe in education as the key to a brighter future.
Rod Smith commended Portia Dzifa Dzilah for her exceptional commitment and for demonstrating that true educators extend their influence far beyond the classroom. He described her belief in education’s transformative power as both inspiring and profoundly moving, crediting her with offering not just academic instruction but also hope, encouragement, and a vision for the future.
As part of her award package, Dzilah will enrol in a professional development course of her choice through Cambridge’s Enrichment Programme. Her photograph and story will also appear on the thank-you page of Cambridge textbooks scheduled for release in November 2025 and featured across the organisation’s global promotional materials for the following year.
This milestone underscores the vital role of dedicated educators working in challenging environments. It reinforces the value of celebrating those who shape not only the academic journeys of their students but also the future of entire communities and nations.
Now in its seventh year, the Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards provide students, parents, and fellow educators with a platform to recognise and celebrate teachers who consistently demonstrate outstanding dedication to their learners’ growth and success.
