Teachers are this country’s future

While the old saying that “the children are our future” is relevant for South Africa, we believe that without dedicated, capable teachers, those children are not going to have much of a future.

The news that a Johannesburg teacher, Marj Brown (from Roedean High School), has made the top 10 shortlist for the 2018 Varkey Global Teacher Prize – out of 30 000 nominations worldwide – is a recognition not only of her commitment but that of teachers across the country.

Throughout her career, Brown has worked to improve the lives of youngsters, even putting herself at risk during the years of apartheid when she and others helped found a progressive school in the Bophuthatswana bantustan.

She went on to be a field worker for the anti-apartheid organisation the Black Sash, documenting the suffering of communities due to forced removals.

Today, she runs several community outreach and literacy programmes.

Yet, there are many just like her, working for low pay and long hours in our schools, often in difficult conditions.

The best of them are there because they care and because teaching is more than a job, it is a vocation.

We salute Marj Brown and all our other wonderful teachers. You are our future …

//