World Teachers’ Day, which is celebrated yearly on October 5th, was established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to summon support for teachers. The job of a teacher is not an eight-hour and confined to the classroom. Many teachers will advise even as they jostle responsibilities of family life at home, including taking care of their own children, they are marking school papers and preparing Notes of Lessons. Theirs is the extraordinary job to prepare our children to be productive citizens and meet the challenges of the world of work, whether they chose to be business owners or employees.
In the classroom teachers double as parent, counsellor, and provider. Their training/education is not only manifested in moulding impressionable minds, it is applied to parenting that child who needs a listening ear, deserving of parental advice/guidance. Teachers dig deep into their own pockets to buy school supplies for their classroom and students to make learning seamless and stress free for their students. Many would buy food/snacks for a hungry child or share theirs’ because they recognise nourishment impacts learning.
While not trained counselors by profession, teachers would acknowledge they do not ignore their students’ emotional needs. They are usually the first to recognise something is amiss in the child’s life. They are the first responders in many ways to a child’s development, not only because of their profession but also because most of the child’s waking hours, during the school period, are spent in the classroom. The joy and satisfaction of teaching may not necessarily be monetary, but derived from students’ success at examination, graduation and going into the world of work, even if earning more than those who taught them.
Teachers do all the above and more, many times having to forego their own needs and content with salaries that undervalue their service. That UNESCO has dedicated a day, since 1994, to organise around those who society should be rallying around every day, confirms how important this profession is to our lives and that of our children.
This year’s theme “Teachers: Leading in crisis, reimagining the future” could not be more fitting. The global pandemic- COVID-19- has thrown everything in chaos, particularly for those uncomfortable with seismic change. Societies are being forced to rethink traditional ways of doing things and teaching has not been spared. Physical classrooms have gone remote and teachers are forced to adopt to the new environment. In Guyana this has been often at their own expense. They are forced to purchase more phone and internet services to stay in touch with their students, out of love for the profession, and not wanting to leave any child behind. The personal investment comes at a princely sum on a salary that is marginal.
According to UNESCO, with the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4), which targets Education, World Teachers Day has become the occasion to mark progress on the Education 2030 Agenda and “reflect on ways to counter the remaining challenges for the promotion of the teaching profession.” Guyana’s teachers provide yeoman’s service. As the world dedicates a day to assess and review their needs in playing their role in Sustainable Development, they deserve our support to go forth boldly and request what is needed to meet that goal.
Education makes a nation. Its place in sustainable development must not only be on paper but see vigorous efforts through partnership with Government, Parents and Teachers to ensure effectiveness. The SDG4 has seven “Outcome Target” and three “means of implementation.” The targets are:-Universal primary and secondary education; Early childhood development and universal pre-primary education; Equal success to technical/ vocational and higher education; Relevant skills for decent work; Gender equality and inclusion; Universal Youth Literacy; and Education for sustainable development and global citizenship. These targets are expected to be achieved through implementation of: – -Effective learning environments; Scholarships; and Teachers and educators.
The Village Voice takes this opportunity to thank our teachers, today and every day. Your selfless service to this nation and our children is deeply appreciated.
