JOHANNESBURG – “As we celebrate, we are mindful of the role the educators play in shaping the minds of young people to become leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals in various fields of work,” Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) said in a statement.
This prestigious annual celebration marks a very important day for all educators, with the aim of mobilizing support for teachers and ensuring that a significant token of awareness, understanding and appreciation is displayed for the vital contribution that educators make to shape the lives of many.
The enormous and significant role of teachers is not only limited to education in the classroom, but teachers often find themselves in situations where they have to play the roles of mothers, doctors and social workers.
A popular quote by the GDE states, “We often say that teaching is the profession that gives birth to all other professions.”
The department has adopted a mission that seeks to provide functional and modern schools that enable quality teaching and learning to protect and promote the right of every learner to quality, equitable and relevant education. This mission can never be realised without the commitment of educators.
In responding to these educational imperatives and modernizing education, the department has introduced smart paperless classrooms.
This is to ensure that educators have progressive access to broadband and innovative teaching tools that will make it easier for them to deliver quality education to our learners. The department continues to implement programmes that are critical to support the growth needs of our educators.
Gauteng Education MEC, Mr Panyaza Lesufi is currently leading a process which has made submissions to the Presidential Remuneration Review Commission on the policy proposals and recommendations for the attraction and retention of educators in the public education system.
Among the proposals which the MEC has submitted, is the Tax incentive exemption for educators in the public education system.
This demonstrates the department’s commitment to ensure that a decent working environment is created for educators and a living wage which allows salaries of educators to ensure them decent living conditions.
The department would like to urge everyone across the globe to observe this day and give appreciation to the vital role that teachers play in shaping the minds of our children and developing them into dynamic beings.
