Teachers hold key for the future – UN
On the occasion of World Teachers’ Day, four United Nations Agencies and the International Education have said teachers hold the keys to a better future for all.
They observed that: “Teachers inspire, challenge and empower innovative and responsible global citizens; get children into school, keep them there and help them learn. Every day, they help to build the inclusive knowledge societies need for tomorrow and the century ahead.”
A joint statement signed by Guy Ryder, Director-General, International Labour Organization (ILO), Irina Bokova, Director-General, United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, Helen Clark, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme, Anthony Lake, Executive Director, United Nations International Children’s Fund, and Fred van Leeuwen, General Secretary, Education International, copied to the Ghana News Agency on Saturday said: “On this World Teachers’ Day, we join forces to thank teachers and to call for more, better trained and supported teachers”.
“Nothing can replace a good teacher. Evidence shows that teachers, their professional knowledge and skills are the most important factor for quality education.”
It said this requires stronger training upfront and continual professional development and support to enhance performance and learning outcomes.
“We know this and yet, far too often, teachers remain under-qualified and poorly paid, with low status, and excluded from education policy matters and decisions that concern and affect them.
“At the global level, some 5.24 million teachers need to be recruited in order to reach the goal of universal primary education by 2015 this means 1.58 million new recruits and 3.66 million are needed to replace those leaving the profession.
“The challenge goes beyond numbers –more teachers must mean better quality learning, through appropriate training and support.
“This is essential for ensuring every learner’s right to quality education –especially, to reach the 57million children of primary school age currently out of school.
“At the current pace, we estimate that 49 per cent of these children will never enter school, while 28 per cent will start school late –54 per cent of them are girls,” it said.
The statement said teachers are the central solution to the learning crisis, and yet too many are poorly trained and poorly supported –often disconnected from the policy decisions that affect them.
The statement noted that teachers are central to the provision of safe and supportive learning environments, and yet too many of them are teaching in circumstances of extreme hardship, emergencies and even attacks.
It said effective international action is essential to support national efforts to bolster teachers and education institutions, and improve the education opportunities of all children.
It called for decent working conditions and better pay for teachers to reflect a commitment to delivering.
“This is our call for teachers today. Join us in thanking and supporting the teachers we have and in recruiting new women and men, to shape more effective education systems and prepare young people and adults for active and responsible participation in society.
“There is no stronger foundation for lasting peace and sustainable development than a quality education provided by well trained, valued, supported and motivated teachers.
“The education of future generations hangs in the balance unless we can rise to the challenge of putting the best possible teacher in every classroom,” it said.
Source: GNA