Better late than never, they say. It took the world too long to see the need to set aside just one day out of 365 days to honour and enhance the status of the teaching profession. On the local scene, after a long and protracted struggle, government finally succumbed to demands for more pronounced and open teacher recognition and duly designated June 2 as a Teachers’ Day. Other professions such as the military were miles ahead of the teachers in this regard.

It is only in this super Friday day that our educators across the length and breadth of this blessed land are permitted to take a well-deserved break from their otherwise 24/7 hectic teaching schedules to celebrate their achievements, take stock of the noble work they do, lament their worries and bring to the attention of the world the challenges that continue to dog the teaching profession. On a global scale, celebrations are expected to kick off much later on October 5, a date set aside by UNESCO as the World Teachers’ Day.

The international teachers’ day was first commemorated only ‘yesterday’ in 1994 following the signing and adoption of a recommendation by the International Labour organisation (ILO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation(UNESCO) in 1966 on the enhancement of the status of the teaching profession. The teaching profession, which is as old as humanity itself, is the world’s most difficult and crucial job yet the members of the profession consider it the world’s most unappreciated and unrewarding job. This is not without foundation because recognition came far too late in the day.

But, there is no denying the fact that teachers are the architects of a sustainable future. Teaching remains the only profession capable of tackling the cycle of poverty, equalising societies and restoring human dignity. Indeed the recognition came far too late considering that even in times of antiquity, whenever there were groups of people living together among them there must have been someone who assumed the role of a private tutor, charged with the responsibility of guiding others on matters of survival in the midst of a very hostile and unkind environment. The latest UN data recognises the teachers as the kingpin in the quest for realisation and fulfilment of the 2030 sustainable development agenda.

Teaching remains the most sought after profession and to date there are still issues surrounding the supply of teachers. To achieve the SDG 4 of the universal primary and secondary Education by 2030, it is reported that, “the world needs almost 69 million new teachers.” Furthermore it is stated, “about 263 million children and youth are out of school, according to recent UIS data. This includes 25 million children of primary school age who will probably never set foot in a classroom, while just 14% of youth complete upper secondary education in low-income countries.”

Although a lot has been accomplished in the education sphere, there are pending and vexing issues of access and quality needing urgent attention. While Botswana has a surplus of teachers, some parts of the world are experiencing a serious shortage of teachers. Botswana should take advantage of the situation and up-skill its teaching force to export them to take up employment opportunities on offer elsewhere.

This special occasion for teachers offers the nation to reflect much more seriously on the work of teachers and the critical role that they played and continue to play in shaping the destiny of our country. At independence, the country was listed as one of the poorest countries in the world and today it has proudly assumed the upper middle income status. And the teaching profession played a significant role in the transformation journey. As individuals, who among us can claim to be a self-made man, who does not owe his success or existence of his profession to the foundation that the teachers laid?

They don’t call it the mother of all professions without any solid reason. All professions from street sweepers, truck drivers, shop keepers, men and women who patrol our streets, man our mines, those who heal us when we are sick, clerks to the clergy man in churches and mosques, are indebted to the teaching profession. It is a fact that so many have achieved and prospered so much in various professions because the teachers nurtured them so well. Teachers deserve a thank you from everyone, parents and their students. Teachers need validation and feedback from the beneficiaries of their sweat, toils and blood. They need to know that their efforts have not been in vain. Why should anyone choose to be quiet when it is his /her teachers’ day?

As students, we have gone through the hands of many teachers across all levels from the kindergarten to the university. But why it is so difficult for students to give flowers to at least one or two teachers who could have touched their lives in big way? It is not right to withhold the honour and accolades that teachers have earned. Teachers should never be alone in this journey of recognising their exploits. This day should be characterised by an outpouring of parental and students messages of love and appreciation. The teachers made the nation and their students should reciprocate with thanks giving.

For the year 2023, all roads lead to the high profile national celebration in Francistown and the event as usual will be graced by the President of the republic. Low key celebrations, albeit equally important, will simultaneously run in the respective 10 education regions and sub regions. The challenge is that government seems to be running the show singlehandedly in terms of funding the events. But this is the one celebration which on account of its magnitude requires concerted effort. The day offers the public an opportunity to reflect on how much premium it is attaching to the teaching profession.

A multi-sectoral or public-private-partnership collective approach can ease the burden on government and deliver a top notch celebration worthy of and befitting the stature of the teaching profession. It should not be hard for the business community and individuals to contribute generously towards the Teachers’ Day. The private sector should also consider taking a greater responsibility over matters of teacher professional development. Education is too delicate a responsibility to be left in the hands of government alone. Besides this the prevailing economic climate may no longer allow government to run the show alone.

Having said that, teachers too have an opportunity to reflect deeply on how well they are serving their clients. Schools are only as good as the quality of their teachers. Yes, there are well documented roadblocks frustrating the work of teachers and inhibiting provision of quality education. Issues of low remuneration, shortage of critical teaching and learning inputs and limited opportunities for further professional development and promotion continue to dog the profession and solutions must be sought and found. It is not practical to expect quick fixes but while awaiting solutions, students should enjoy the teachers’ undivided attention. Teachers are not known for despondency in the face of challenges. Staff housing has never been adequate but the teachers from time immemorial were able to dispense quality teaching in the classroom. Teachers’ Day is the time to register the plight of teachers but it should also be an opportunity to ease the worries of parents.