“A Call for Teachers!” The motto of this year’s World Teachers’ Day calls upon everyone to thank and support teachers. World Teachers’ Day is observed worldwide on October 5.
It is a day to celebrate the contribution of teachers all over the world. It is a day to thank them for inspiring and guiding students. It is also a day to reflect on issues facing teachers globally, including here in Nepal too. [break]
“Those who educate children well are more to be honored than parents, for these only gave life, those the art of living well,” said Aristotle in 4th century BC. Teachers, by their power to inculcate the “art of living” undoubtedly hold the key to a better future.
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They are the ones who inspire, challenge and empower learners of all ages to become innovative and responsible global citizens. It is their contribution and hard work that helps to build, one student to the next, knowledgeable societies of tomorrow.
Teachers, or guru, as we refer to them, are responsible for grooming children developing their abilities to build a sustainable future as citizens who are able to take action in their own communities and contribute to global challenges as well. They guide and help students to think critically, to process information from several sources, to foster cooperation, to tackle problems and to make informed choices.
Nothing can replace a good teacher. Evidence shows that it is knowledgeable and skilled teachers who can provide quality education and promote the values of citizenship, peace and intercultural dialogue.
As the key people who guide and shape minds, it is important that teachers are provided with rigorous training upfront and then supported with continuous professional skills development thereafter. Yet, far too often, teachers remain under-qualified and poorly paid, with low social status, and excluded from policy matters regarding education as well as in the decision-making processes that concern and affect them.
Globally, it has been estimated that in order to reach the goal of universal primary education by 2015, we need to recruit about 5.24 million teachers! This includes1.58 million new recruits and 3.66 million to replace those leaving the profession. The challenge goes beyond numbers—m ore teachers must mean better quality learning, through appropriate training and support.
In Nepal the Ministry of Education will recruit 13 000 new teachers for the next two years. Emphasis will be given to teachers’ deployment and capacity strengthening for professional development throughout their career. More teachers means better student teacher ratio. Recent data have shown that Nepal has an average of one teacher for 42 students at the basic level (1 –8 grade) and an average of one teacher for 60 students at the lower secondary level (9 –10 grade) and 31 students per teacher in higher secondary (grade 11-12).
The Nepal’s School Sector Reform Program rightly recognizes the importance of teachers and it includes the important components related to capacity building of trainers for teachers as well as teachers’ training institutions. But many of the components are yet to be fully translated into practice. One of the components includes the recruitment of sufficient numbers of female teachers.
Currently they only account for one third of the total number of teachers, which in practice means one female teacher per school only. Other components include regular redeployment of teachers; creation of adequate working conditions in schools, and the availability of sufficient number of qualified and diversified teachers, especially in remote areas. All these elements are crucial for effective teaching learning in schools.
But the one area that begs our attention is the training of Nepal’s 275,000 teachers. Currently around 94 percent of primary level teachers in approved positions are fully trained. However with the structural changes and decentralized management there are various employment schemes for teachers with limited opportunities to capacity building and training.Since we know that well-trained and skilled teachers are the foundations of good schools, and good schools are the pillars of healthy and democratic communities, it is crucial that we ensure that teachers are properly trained, better resourced and supported. All of these would cumulatively translate to raising the learning achievement levels in the country.
Without teachers we would not be able to achieve the goals of “Education for All.” We need sufficient number of well trained teachers in each and every school in the country, regardless of where they are situated—in the plains, or hills and mountains, whether in urban towns and cities or in the remote villages.
Yes, we expect a lot from teachers. They, in turn, are right to expect as much from us.
Today on World Teachers’ Day, UNESCO and UNICEF extend a special call for teachers and invite all to join in thanking and supporting teachers. Let us take this day to reignite our commitment to supporting the men and women who are engaged in the most noble of all professions—teaching—and ensure that we continue to support them the rest of the 364 days too.
Let us pledge to ensure that there are sufficient number of trained teachers who can shape more effective education systems and prepare young people and adults for active and responsible participation in society. There is no stronger foundation for lasting peace and sustainable development than a quality education provided by well trained, valued, supported and motivated teachers. The education of future generations hangs in the balance unless we can rise to the challenge of putting the best possible teacher in every classroom. A teacher after all is the one who ignites the fire of knowledge in people’s mind.
Authors head Nepal offices of UNESCO and UNICEF respectively.
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