AS the world finds ways to navigate the education landscape in the new normal, teachers carry the responsibility of making sure that their remote teaching methods are working. Many teachers had to learn new things and continue their development to catch up with technology and the students’ emerging needs.
The teachers need to be able to help or guide students who are having a hard time with distance learning. At the same time, they strive to meet both the parents’ and the school’s expectations. Commitment is, indeed, at the heart of this noble profession. Burdened by their personal struggles compounded by the pandemic, teachers continue to carry the responsibility of educating the nation, a crucial aspect in national development and progress.
It is only fitting that we pay tribute to our teachers as we celebrate National Teachers’ Month from September 5 to October 5, and National Teachers’ Day on October 5. This year’s theme is I Teach for a Better Future—it is “a tribute to our teachers’ dedication to ensure continuity of learning and bridge gaps for the growth of students who are the country’s future leaders.”
We can pay tribute to teachers by showing our appreciation to the teachers in our lives—our past and present teachers, the teachers of our children, our teacher friends or relatives, and so on. Expressing appreciation can take many forms, but I’m sure they will appreciate an uplifting message or a note of gratitude. We can, for instance, tell them how they inspired us and positively affected our lives.
But aside from showing them our gratitude and respect, it’s also important that we support their cause and inform ourselves about their plight, the issues or struggles they are facing, so we can help them better. As we do this, the students and the nation benefit in the end from the improvements in their capabilities.
We often hear people say that many of the gaps in society stem from a lack of proper education. Misinformation, lack of opportunities and poverty, poor decision-making, and many other socio-economic issues can be lessened if more people were armed with a good education. We don’t need statistics or surveys to prove that the education system, including our teachers, needs more support. We can see the symptoms all around us.
For sure, teachers do more than teach our learners. In many cases, they act as second parents and guardians to our children. They do hold the power to inspire young minds, influence or mold lives, and to shape the country and its future. It’s only right that we help to put them in a position that will allow them to carry out these responsibilities in the best possible way.