Portia Dzifa Dzilah, a teacher at Pakro Anglican Basic School in the Akuapem South District in the Eastern Region of Ghana, has made history by becoming the first Ghanaian to win the Sub-Saharan Africa regional title in the 2025 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards.
This global award, which started seven years ago, honours teachers who go beyond the classroom to make a difference. Portia stood out for her strong commitment to helping students in Pakro, a rural farming area that faces problems like low school attendance, truancy, and teenage pregnancy.
To help solve these issues, Portia created mentorship programmes and started projects to support girls’ education and hygiene. She also formed a gender club and led campaigns on food and sanitary health.
Speaking after her win, Portia said, “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. Education is a lifeline, and I will continue to fight for every child to have access to it.”
Her nomination stood out among over 5,000 entries from 101 countries, showing the global importance of her work.
As a regional winner, Portia will receive £500 worth of Cambridge books for her classroom, a trophy, and international recognition. Her name will also appear on the “Thank You” page of new Cambridge textbooks to be released in November 2025.
Rod Smith, Managing Director of International Education at Cambridge University Press & Assessment, praised her work. “Teachers like Portia bring warmth, creativity, and inspiration to education — things that even the best technology cannot replace,” he said.
Portia is now a finalist for the overall 2025 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Award. People around the world can vote for her at dedicatedteacher.cambridge.org/vote until April 30, 2025. The overall winner will be announced on May 21.
The Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards aim to celebrate teachers who change lives and build better futures for their students and communities.
