The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) inaugurated 05 October as World Teachers' Day. World Teachers' Day represents a significant effort to raise awareness, understanding and appreciation for the vital contribution that teachers make to education and development across the globe.
In many countries, the quality of education is undermined by a shortage of teachers. An added challenge is one of quality: all too often, teachers work without resources or proper training. The stakes are high, because we face a global learning crisis, with 250 million children not acquiring the basic skills of reading and writing. As countries accelerate towards 2016 and the new development agenda is shaped, it is essential that teachers remain a priority.
To mark this milestone, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) will be honouring all teachers during October 2015, which has been dubbed Teacher Appreciation Month under the theme: “Teachers, the Heartbeat of the Nation”. A decision was taken that from for 2015 onwards, the interpretation of the concept of recognition of teachers “will be wider, holistic and yearlong;” and will include focus areas that affect teachers as part of the Teacher Appreciation and Support Programme (TASP).
