TVC E. World Teachers’ Day is observed on October 5 in many parts of the globe by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the theme for this year’s celebration is “Valuing Teachers, Improving their Status.”
The 2016 World Teachers’ Day with the theme -‘Valuing Teachers, Improving their Status’ was described by teachers as most apt for the Nigerian where our teachers deserved to be celebrated for being the pivot of socio-economic development. Nigerian teachers who spoke to news men decried their poor teaching conditions, stressing that teachers are not so treated with disdain globally.
According to them, whereas the Nigerian teachers are still using blackboards and chalks for teaching in the 21st century, their counterparts in other countries are using whiteboards and markers, noting that many countries of the world have even gone beyond the use of whiteboard to interactive classroom system, coupled with teaching aids. While teachers in many countries of the world are well remunerated, they maintained that teachers in Nigeria were not only poorly paid, but many were being owed several months of unpaid salaries.
The global event of World Teachers’ Day will be held on Wednesday in Paris, France. 2016 marks the 50th anniversary of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, who are being honoured on this special day for choosing the challenging profession that helps many individuals in shaping their career.
“UNESCO with the WTD convening agencies (ILO, UNICEF, UNDP, and EI) and the International Task Force on Teachers, dedicates this day to celebrating a unique intergovernmental commitment – the only international standard-setting instrument on teachers – and reaffirms its commitment to the value of the profession.”