Anis Haffar, a renowned educationist and founder of the GATE Institute has been listed among 100 most influential Africans of 2016 in Education by the New African Magazine, a leading and respected magazine published in the U.K.
The annual recognition, now in its fifth year, seeks to celebrate achievements of 100 African personalities, in their chosen endeavours and their contribution towards Africa’s growth and development.
Haffar is one of the few Ghanaians who made the list and the magazine described his knowledge impact approach as a “more interactive method of teaching that urges teachers not to consider themselves as the repository of knowledge but to allow students to contribute to their own learning.
“Haffar is committed to preparing a new generation of students and teachers for leadership”.
Others who made the list in the education are Patrick Awuah – Ashesi University College; Dr Kerretts Makau – Strathmore Business School; Stacey Brewer – Sparks Schools; Sizwe Nxasana – FirstRand; Prof. Olive Mugenda – former Vice Chancellor, Kenyatta University; Patrick Utomi (Lagos Business School-Nigeria; Amadou Diaw, International School of Management; Calestrous Juma- Harvard University; Jonathan Jansen – University of the Free State; Graema Bloch – Wits University; Roshni Mooneeram – Nottingham University; Chinezi Chijioke – Nova Pioneer; H.E Dr Graca Machel and Mahmood Mamdani of Makerere Institute of Social Research.
Anis Haffar is trainer, lecturer, columnist and author with over 32 years of experience in the educational sector. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Tema International School and the Director of AGA School at Obuasi, among others. He is a senior lecturer at the Accra College of Medicine where he teaches Leadership and Critical Thinking.
Haffar started off his professional career as a teacher in the United States where he taught English language, English literature and Communication skills in Los Angeles Unified School District and Dibble Adult School, La Puente in California.
In 1995, after coordinating the Gifted And Talented Education (GATE) program in US, he founded the GATE Institute in Ghana to help update administrators, teachers, and students in current trends in education especially in critical thinking for effective learning, ICT application in schemes of work/ weekly forecasts and instructional strategies in both public and private schools.
Haffar is credited with numerous workshops and Teacher Education seminars in Instructional Strategies which are gradually enhancing effective teaching and learning in schools across the regions in Ghana.
Alpha Beta Christian College, Morning Star, St Martin de Porres, Ave Maria, Rect Academy, Crown Prince Academy, in Accra, and Ridge School and D & D Academy in Kumasi are among many schools that have benefited from his scope of enriched experience in the education sector.
He has authored two books (LEADERSHIP: Reflections on Some Shakers and Thinkers”, and MFANTSIPIM: The Makers of Great School”). Currently he’s working on his third book titled “Transforming Education for Quality Leadership and Prosperity” which is definitely a must read for all.
Anis Haffar is a columnist for the Daily Graphic and Business World Magazine on subjects of educational reforms, youth empowerment, human capital development etc.