No doubt, every right thinking person eagerly wishes
to know what he/she does not or is yet to know. Such attribute can be referred
to as ‘Man’s quest for knowledge’.
In the same vein; for anyone to acquire any
form of knowledge, he must be taught by someone or something. In a situation
whereby the knowledge recipient is being taught by a non-human such as book,
internet or as the case may be, it is worthy to note that that material or avenue
through which he acquired the knowledge was invented by someone or a human.
Someone who imparts knowledge to other person(s), directly or
indirectly, is generally referred to as a teacher. In a concise term; a teacher
is someone who teaches others better ways of doing something or a better way of
living. He can also be described as someone who helps or contributes
meaningfully in the uplift of someone else’s educational status/level. In other
words, teaching is simply the act of imparting knowledge.
This singular fact has proven to us that anyone can be identified as a
teacher, considering the relationship that exists between the persons involved.
But it would interest us to acknowledge that, there are those or group of
persons who embrace teaching as a profession. This set of people could be
regarded as institutional teachers.
In most cases, the institutional teachers are the ones that are often recognized as ‘teachers’ owing to the fact that they are the only persons that bring out their time, energy, resources, and what have you to the fullness, to ensure that knowledge is fully and duly obtained by its seekers. Among all, anyone who practices teaching or who takes teaching as a profession, must had passed through a certain professional educational training in any higher citadel of learning.
In most nations, it is disheartening to note that this set of people
known as teachers whom had contributed immensely to the socio-economic
development of the nation, are treated poorly or badly as regards payment of
salaries and other incentives. It is even more pathetic and disgusting to note
that in some quarters, these persons whom are meant to be the leading professionals
are regarded as second class if not third class citizens.
If
the truth must be told, then we all must agree that it is only an insane man
that is yet to comprehend the fact that teachers are the building block of any
nation. Needless to say; they remain the rudiments or foundation on which any
nation is built.
In view of the unavoidable impact of teachers
on any society, in 1994, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) reached a unanimous resolution that October 5 of
every year should be observed by all the UN Member States as World Teachers’
Day. The annual World Teachers’ Day, which is aimed at mobilizing support for
teachers as well as ensuring that the needs of future generations would
continue to be met by teachers, was first commemorated in the year 1994.
According to UNESCO, World Teachers’ Day represents a significant token
of the awareness, understanding and appreciation displayed for the vital
contribution that teachers make to education and global development. On its
part, Education International (EI), which is the global union federation that
represents education professionals worldwide, strongly solicits that World
Teachers’ Day ought to be internationally recognized and celebrated around the
world.
As the world over commemorates the 21st anniversary of the
World Teachers’ Day, the civil society and other stakeholders are expected to
encourage the teaching profession by ensuring that the following conditions are
reached by any employer:
v
Good
and enticing employment conditions including appropriate contracts, salaries,
and prospects for career progression and promotion.
v
Conducive
and charming work environment.
v
High
quality pre- and in-service training.
v
Effective
management to include a teacher’s recruitment and deployment.
The international
community and various governments need to stand firm and united to support
teachers as well as quality learning worldwide, especially in those countries
where the highest number of out-of-school children exists. In this regard, they
are meant to acknowledge that an education system is only as good as its
teachers.
Above all and most importantly, the various existing Teachers’ Unions or
organizations are also expected to support their respective governments in the
area of maintenance of sanity in our schools. By so doing, anomalies like
mediocrity, laxity, apathy, truancy, among other nonchalant attitudes of some
teachers would be totally eradicated.
The above measure if properly implemented would enable any teacher
anywhere in the world to proudly identify him/herself as a ‘teacher’ regardless
of the circumstance.
COMR FRED DOC NWAOZOR
(TheMediaAmbassador)Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research
& Career Development - Owerri
_____________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056 http://frednwaozor.blogspot.com
Twitter: @fdnnwaozor
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