‘Teachers lead the motivation charge, helping people to unleash their passion and bear
true gifts to the world.’ OjisiEmezie
Dear Future
Wife,
I come from
the family of illustrous teachers on both sides of the family. It is such things
that make me act like an onye nkuzi even
though a few people know me as nwa
ticha. It was Bill Gates who once said, "Technology is just a tool. In
terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is
the most important. Nne m, I find that statement very true especially as Today
is Teachers Day!
Yeah! Uto m, I love teachers not just because Mum was a teacher for 33 years before she retired and died why waiting for her entitlements, or because she came from a family of illustrious teachers, but because of how important the teacher is.You see, for me, it comes naturally, so when you people call me oversabi, know that they referring to the teacher instincts in me working.
 |
| Image Credit: www.currentaffairs.com |
Baby, The theme for this year is “Teaching in Freedom, Empowering Teachers”, echoing the 2015 theme that followed the adoption of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) in September 2015, when teacher empowerment was reaffirmed as a top priority in all education and development strategies Last year the theme was Valuing Teachers, Improving Their Status.’ This theme is quite apt not only for the Nigerian society but also it best speaks to the African continent.
 |
| Image Credit: www.calendarpedia.com |
Darling, the age long maxim 'teachers reward are in heaven' have become a dangerous philosophy, a breeding ground for contempt and the trivialization of the role of teachers. This leads to the further enslavement of teachers going by the non-provision of conducive environment, the dearth of modern teaching aids added to the backlog of salaries owed them. It was William Arthur Ward who once wrote “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires”. This is what an absence of empowerment and lack of freedom causes.
Sweetheart, do you that according to UNESCO website, , World Teachers’ Day is celebrated annually
worldwide and brings together governments, multi- and bilateral organizations,
NGOs, private sectors, teachers and experts in the field of teaching. With the
adoption of SDG 4 on education, and the dedicated target 4.c recognizing teachers as key to
the achievement of the 2030 Education Agenda, it has become the occasion to
mark achievements and reflect on ways to counter the remaining challenges for
the promotion of the teaching profession, like the acute shortage of teachers.
Indeed, according to the UNESCO Institute of Statistics, the world needs 69
Million teachers if we are to achieve universal primary and secondary education
by 2030.
It is he
who hasn't been taught before that would not be grateful go for the lessons of
life as presented to us by teachers. Every day, the teacher pours herself as a
libation for us to become better people. Maria Montessori puts it well "It
is not enough for the teacher to love the child. She must first love and
understand the universe. She must prepare herself, and truly work at it."
| Image Credit: www.en.unesco.org |
The teacher can only teach in freedom if we value them and provide the necessary facilities needed for effective teaching. The only way we can empower them is to allow them tell the right stories by leveraging on the beauty of history in explaining the present and predicting the future. This where the joint statement by UNESCO, ILO, UNICEF, UNDP and Education International is quite poignant.
Here it
is;
Teachers are a critical foundation of every
society’s long-term strength -- providing children, young people and adults
with the knowledge and skills they need to fulfill their potential. But around the world, far too many teachers
don’t have the freedom and support they need to do their vitally important
jobs. That is why the theme of this year’s World Teachers’ Day –“Teaching in
Freedom, Empowering Teachers” – reaffirms the value of empowered teachers and
recognizes the challenges many encounter in their professional lives across the
globe.
Being an empowered teacher means having
access to high-quality training, fair wages, and continuous opportunities for
professional development. It also means having the freedom to support the
development of national curricula -- and the professional autonomy to choose
the most appropriate methods and approaches that enable more effective,
inclusive and equitable education. Furthermore, it means being able to teach in
safety and security during times of political change, instability, and
conflict.
But in many countries, academic freedom and
teacher autonomy are under pressure. For example, at the primary and secondary
school levels in some countries, stringent accountability schemes have put
enormous pressure on schools to deliver results on standardized tests, ignoring
the need to ensure a broad-based curriculum that meets the diverse needs of
students.
| Image Credit: www.youtube.com |
Academic freedom is critical for teachers at
every level of education, but it is especially critical for higher-education
teachers, supporting their ability to innovate, explore, and stay up-to-date on
the latest pedagogical research. At the tertiary level, teachers are often
employed on a fixed-term, contingency basis. This in turn can result in greater
job insecurity, diminished career prospects, higher workload and lower wages –
all of which can restrict academic freedom and undermine the quality of
education that teachers can deliver.
Across all education levels, political
pressure and business interests can curb the ability of educators to teach in
freedom. Teachers living and working in countries and communities affected by
conflicts and instability often face greater challenges, including rising
intolerance, discrimination, and related restrictions on research and teaching.
This year marks the 20 year anniversary of
the 1997 UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education
Teaching Personnel, which complements the 1966 UNESCO/ILO Recommendation
concerning the Status of Teachers. Together, these instruments constitute the
main reference framework on the rights and responsibilities of teachers and
educators. Both stress the importance of teacher autonomy and academic freedom
in building a world in which education and learning are truly universal.
As the world works together to realize the
vision of the Sustainable Development Goals, we appeal to our partners in
governments and across the education and private sectors to commit to building
a highly skilled, valued and empowered education workforce. This constitutes a
critical path to realizing SDG 4, which envisions a world in which every girl,
boy, woman and man has access to quality education and lifelong learning
opportunities.
This means securing decent working
conditions and fair wages for all teachers including at the tertiary level. It
means providing teachers with training and development. It means increasing the
number of quality teachers, especially in those countries with high numbers of
untrained teaching personnel. It means removing unnecessary restrictions on
research and teaching and defending academic freedom at all education levels.
Finally, it means raising the status of
teachers around the world in a way that honors and reflects the impact they
have on the strength of society. This
World Teachers’ Day, join us in empowering teachers to teach in freedom so
that, in turn, every child and every adult is free to learn – to the benefit of
a better world.
I would love to hear you thoughts on how we can improve the status of our teachers, how can empower them, and how they can teach in freedom.
| Image Credit: www.pinterest.com |
To every
profession, a teacher is responsible. To the many success and ingenuity
recorded in our World today, the hand of the teacher is visible. Today, the
world celebrates the amazing roles Teachers play in shaping our lives and in
building great minds. On days like this, I remember my mother for she gave 33
years of her life in molding Characters! Odiro ofele i bu onye nkuzi!
To all
teachers out there, may God bless you with all the wisdom, knowledge and
understanding together with the strength you need to build people.
We celebrate you!
OjisiEmezie
2 comments
This is too beautiful. I hope many eyes get to see this beauty. Odiro ofele ibu onye nkuzi
ReplyDeleteOdiro ofele n'ezie.
DeleteIn truth it is not easy!
Thanks for stopping by Zoé.