World Teachers’ Day – Celebrating our teachers
World Teachers’ Day is celebrated the world over on 5th October to honour and appreciate teachers for their valuable contribution to societal growth and transformation.
The theme of World Teachers’ Day 2023 is: "The teachers we need for the education we want: The global imperative to reverse the teacher shortage".
The theme encapsulates the global crisis that the education sector is confronted with. UNESCO calls on governments around the world to step up their support for teachers, warning that the profession is struggling to retain its workforce and attract new talent. Worldwide, 69 million teachers are needed to reach universal basic education by 2030, and that the largest deficit is in sub-Saharan Africa.
The programmes of Council are geared towards improvement in the conditions of service of educators to ensure that this crisis is averted.
While we all play a part in ensuring the teaching profession remains a respected one, today we celebrate the unsung heroes that we in our classrooms and wholeheartedly thank them for their dedication to their vocation.
We salute all teachers today; may you remember on this day and every day throughout the year that you are valued and your contribution to society transcends the classroom. More than monetary reward, your legacy is firmly entrenched in the hearts of educated professionals who go on to change the course of history.
Thank you for your tireless efforts that does not go unnoticed.
The work of the Council seeks to ensure the wellbeing of teachers and in turn improve the quality of education in public schools. We therefore remain passionate about celebrating teachers and their immeasurable contribution to society.
Issued by the General Secretary on behalf of the Executive Committee of the ELRC.