TEACHERS countrywide are, today, Friday, October 4, 2019, enjoying a day away from work granted them by the Ministry of Education in observance of World Teacher’s Day, also known as International Teacher’s Day, which is observed annually on October 5.
On Thursday, the Department of Education (Georgetown) of the Ministry of Education (MoE) hosted an appreciation forum themed “Our Tribute to Teachers” at the National Cultural Centre in recognition of the hard work teachers put out in the classroom.

During the well-packaged programme, attended by Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry, the diverse audience of teachers, in addition to being treated to a rich arrangement of songs, dances, skits and fashion display by nursery, primary and secondary students, and video-taped messages from Minister of Education Dr. Nicolette Henry; Chief Education Officer, Dr. Marcel Hutson; Deputy Chief Education Officer (Administration) Ms. Ingrid Trotman; Principal Education Officer Ms. Volika Jaikishun; President of the Guyana Teachers Union, Mr. Mark Lyte; Administrator Allied Arts Unit, Ms Sauda Kadir.

In her message, Minister Henry reminded the teachers that they are one of this country’s valued assets, as they play an integral role in moulding the nation’s children.
She assured them that they can look forward to better wages in 2020, as promised by President David Granger.

According to Hutson, teachers are strategically positioned to be wonderful role models because they have the distinct advantage of becoming the window through which many students see their future.
Also, teaching is a profession that teaches all the other professions, it is not just a job, it is a human service and must be conquered as a mission.
He further reminded that to the world they may be just a teacher but to the students, they are heroes.

Among the schools participating are North Ruimveldt Secondary, Precious Jewel Nursery, South Ruimveldt Secondary; Westfield Prep; the MoE Visually Impaired Resource Unit; The Bishops’ High; St Pius Primary School; Dolphin Secondary; Comenius Primary; Head Start Nursery; Tutorial High; St. Stanislaus College; Lodge Secondary, West Ruimveldt Primary and Morgan’s Learning Centre.

Local singing sensation, Mr Carlvin Burnett, had the audience on their feet and even some teachers dancing, when he sang Jamaican dancehall singer Christopher Martin’s song `You’re a big deal’ and improvised singing ‘Teachers you’re a big deal’ instead.
World Teachers’ Day, which was established in 1994, and commemorates the signing of the 1966 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation/International Labour Organisation (UNESCO/ILO) recommendation concerning the status of teachers, which is a standard-setting instrument that addresses the status and situations of teachers around the world.

The recommendation outlines standards relating to education personnel policy, recruitment, and initial training as well as the continuing education of teachers, their employment, and working conditions.

World Teachers’ Day aims to focus on “appreciating, assessing and improving the educators of the world” and to provide an opportunity to consider issues related to teachers and the teaching profession.