Where would we be as individuals, if it were not for our teachers? It’s a question many of us might rarely ponder on but it’s one that does bear asking and, whether our own experiences were good or bad, certain teachers will never be forgotten for the influences they have had on our lives.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) recognises this and has, since October 5, 1994, held Word Teachers’ Day each year on the same date. This special occasion commemorates the essential role of teaching and serves to mobilise support for those in this profession, ensuring that the needs of future generations will continue to be met by qualified teachers — of which there is a dire shortage of in many parts of the world.
This year will be no different and the day will be observed by more than 100 countries around the world, helped in no small part by the continued efforts of Education International (EI), the global federation which represents education professionals worldwide. Each year EI launches a public awareness campaign to highlight the vital contributions made by the teaching profession to society and we at Dubai Cares feel just as strongly. In the development of children, teaching has a profound influence and those involved deserve our respect and admiration.
According to Unesco, the real point of World Teachers’ Day “is to provide a time to look at and address issues pertaining to teachers. Strangely one of the most central, vital professionals to society does not receive the respect it deserves in some parts of the world.”
World Teachers’ Day is, it adds, “a natural extension of Unesco’s all year round work of promoting teachers, ensuring that this profession, so vital to the healthy functioning of society, is itself ‘healthy’. Teachers are a normative indicator of social health.” This is true, no matter where in the world we are thinking or talking about and, while it is perhaps natural to credit parents with the developmental progress of their children, it is important that we also remember their schoolteachers, who in many instances spend more time with children than their parents do.
Well-adjusted children contribute immeasurably to society. They help communities become stronger and more harmonious and this, in turn, makes for more stable regions and nations. Teachers serve as educators, mentors and friends to the children in their care — clearly the impact they have on the world at large is one we all should take time out to consider.
In the UAE, teaching is a much-respected profession and that is to be applauded. The way in which this country’s teachers impart knowledge engenders respect for our rich history and culture, our unique way of life and proud traditions. It helps children understand the world at large, giving them impartial insights into the beliefs of others and helps them view different nationalities with deep respect. They act as guardians of Emirati culture, helping future generations of leaders and decision-makers get the best possible start in life.
Teaching, in actuality, is nothing short of a national duty and we all should do what we can to support the efforts of those in the profession. We should pause to give them thanks, to praise their dedication and the ways in which they handle problems each and every day with kindness and respect. And as a nation we should remain steadfast in our determination to give them our assistance, to retain their services and to invest in them, in matters pertaining to knowledge and skill development, as well as access to technology that will help them give their best.
Good teachers are the bedrock of society and I hope you will join me, and everyone at Dubai Cares, in thanking them and commemorating the positive influence they have during World Teachers’ Day on October 5th.
Tariq Al Gurg is the chief executive officer, Dubai Cares.
