Dear Editor,

THEY are assigned the responsibility to mould the nation, and they keep doing a fantastic job, despite the challenges.While there remains appreciation for our teachers’ investment in us, today, (5th October) World Teacher’s Day is identified to receive special attention. Thank you for all that you do! This year’s theme, ‘Valuing Teachers, Improving their Status’, is befitting of all teachers, who are the fundamental building blocks in nation building.

Students appreciate that you have risen to the mission to mould minds, guide us into opening new vistas of knowledge, unleash talents and abilities, unlearn negative stereotypes, appreciate the destructive nature of discrimination, and bring the wider world to our little world. It cannot be an easy task to harness competing interests and energies; bring together diverse talents, cultures and backgrounds in the delivery of universal education. It cannot be easy, yet our teachers have embraced these challenges with effortlessness. This extraordinary group of workers deserves every attention given.

The teacher’s work is never done. When students leave for their respective homes and get about their individual lives, the teacher takes the students’ collective lives to his/her home, preparing future study material, marking papers and simultaneously responding to duties within the home.

Teaching is not a job; it is a vocation, a calling, and for that you are valued. This calling is appreciated by minds moulded and the government of the day, who have undertaken the task to improve the education environment. To teachers everywhere, at every level in the education system: thank you for all that you do.

Regards,
SHARMA SOLOMON