Happy Teachers Day
“GREAT teachers empathise with kids, respect them, and believe that each one has something special that can be built upon.” (Ann Lieberman). With the theme “Young Teachers: The Future of the Profession”, Teachers Day falls today but was celebrated by schools yesterday.
Today is the day which marks the endless sacrifices a teacher makes to shape the future of a child and I believe that the influence of a good teacher can never be erased and that our teachers need to be motivated and empowered so that in turn they return the favour to the child under their care.
Teachers must be valued and not threatened or demoralised as this will affect productivity.
Teachers must be paid the correct salary and all increments due to them and the dignity of the teaching profession must be upheld.
Societies that have empowered and valued teachers have progressed and made strides as teachers have been the pillar of strength and have produced and mentored doctors, nurses, accountants, ministers, politicians, dentists and ambassadors.
Sadly, the respect for teachers has declined at home but their value continues to carry weight and people need to realise the important roles they play in making our beloved Fiji a knowledgeable society.
Thus, it is important to appreciate the contributions made by our teachers in building families and societies despite the many criticisms labelled against them and the constraints faced because of the changing behaviour of children and the social ills arising from technology, drugs, peer pressure and other Western values that are having a detrimental effect on schoolchildren.
I would not have been today what I am without the support, advice and teaching of my wonderful teachers and my parents who have been also my teachers and I am glad that we have among us teachers who have their children at heart and take the extra mile to ensure that their educational needs are met.
Apart from teaching inside the four walls of a classroom, teachers are counsellors, guide their students, act as coaches and team managers and supervise extracurricular activities, sacrificing their valuable family time. May I on this occasion of Teachers Day, wish our noble teachers a happy and blessed day and celebration with the thought that a teacher may to the world be a teacher, but to his students, he remains a hero. Thank you very much dear teachers for those endless sacrifices!
RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM
Nadawa, Nasinu