Charlestown Nevis (October 5, 2004) Nevis Teachers’ Union (NTU) President, Mr. Wakely Daniel has said that teaching was a profession that strives hard for the betterment of our children’s future and for a more equal, tolerant and compassionate world.
He was at the time delivering a brief address via television on Monday evening (October 4) to commemorate World Teachers Day being celebrated on October 5. He said, “World Teachers’ Day provides the opportunity to draw public attention to the role of the teachers worldwide, as well as the crucial importance of the role they play in the society.”
He noted that the theme selected for 2004 is “Quality Teachers for Quality Education” and that teaching has to become a profession of the future and made appealing intellectually, socially and financially.
“Far too often instead of celebrating the accomplishments of teachers, society tends to denigrate and deride them. Yet teachers are heartened by the fact that the measure of a man is not his words but his deeds. And the deeds of our teachers are phenomenal. The recent exceptional passes in our local and overseas exams are testaments to this fact.”
In articulating the fact where one would be without a teacher, President Daniel pointed out a few reasons. He said, “Recall that teacher who consoled you when you were depressed; remember that teacher who disciplined you when you were wrong; think of that teacher who took you from having potential to realizing it and reminisce about that great instructor who taught you the important values of respect, loyalty, trustworthiness and responsibility.”
He said that the goal for the international community was for all to be educated by 2015, and that in order for it to become a reality, political leaders must show by their actions what they say when they speak of the importance of education in a knowledge base society of the 21st century.
“They must be prepared to break out of the paradigm of budget cuts and to respond positively to the needs of education,” the President observed. “They must be ready to work constructively with the teachers, and that world teachers day should be the occasion for governments to make new and serious commitments to support and strengthen the essential actors of education.”
He ended by wishing all teachers, past and present a Happy World Teachers’ Day, adding, “You are indeed foot soldiers in the army of education, fighting a never-ending war against illiteracy and ignorance.”
