A celebration of education
This is a time when all South Africans should work together to support not only our pupils, but our teachers as well. As a society, we need to ensure the goals we have set for quality learning and teaching are realised through making education a societal issue.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) inaugurated October 5 as World Teachers’ Day.
World Teachers’ Day represents a significant effort to raise awareness, understanding and appreciation for the vital contribution teachers make to education and development across the globe.
World Teachers’ Day has been celebrated in over 100 countries worldwide every year on October 5 since 1994, aimed at honouring teachers who strive to provide quality education and help pupils become active participants in a global society.
The event is also an opportunity for UNESCO, founders of the initiative, to promote international standards for the teaching profession.
This is a time when all South Africans should work together to support not only our pupils, but our teachers as well. As a society, we need to ensure the goals we have set for quality learning and teaching are realised through making education a societal issue.
The South African Teachers Union (SAOU) urges School Governing Bodies (SGB) and parents to acknowledge teachers in their schools, both state paid and SGB paid, for their hard work and commitment by rewarding them in one way or another.
World Teachers’ Day is an ideal opportunity for parents to show their appreciation to dedicated and hardworking teachers. An SMS, email or thank you note is enough to acknowledge the integral part teachers play in a child’s life and development.
As October 5 is during the upcoming school holiday, SAOU appeals to SGBs and parents to show their gratitude before school closure on October 3.
