Today, October 5, is World Teachers Day, a day set aside by the United Nations to celebrate the valuable roles teachers play in the development of students and societies. It aims to focus on “appreciating, assessing and improving the educators of the world.”
The United Nations adopted Sustainable Development Goal 4 on Education and recognizes teachers as key players to the achievement of the Education 2030 Agenda.
Earlier this year, in March, a Kenyan teacher, Peter Tabichi won the Global Teacher Prize to emerge as the World Best Teacher. Tabichi dedicates 80% of his monthly salary to poor students, while leading students in his deprived school to qualify for this year’s Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.
Tabichi’s achievements indicate that teachers in Africa can deliver greater educational outcomes when given the right tools and opportunities. But teachers and the teaching profession in Africa are plagued with challenges that affect the delivery of quality educational outcomes. Compared to their Western counterparts, teachers in Africa are paid lower wages and incentives and work in unconducive environments.
Teacher shortage is also a serious challenge in the continent. As at 2015, the average pupil/teacher ratio in primary school was 42:1. 70% of African countries are facing an acute shortage at the primary level and 90% at the secondary level. An estimated 17 million teachers are needed to fill this gap. This deficit hampers efforts to achieve quality, equitable and inclusive education.
Coupled with inadequate resources for teaching and learning and learning, the teaching profession in Africa is associated with inadequate training, poor career prospects, and lack of professional autonomy.
World Teachers Day is therefore celebrated to mark progress and reflect on ways to counter challenges for the promotion of the teaching profession. The theme for this year is “Young Teachers: The Future of the Profession,” and it is expected to “recognize the critical importance of reaffirming the value of the teaching mission” and “to make teaching a profession of first choice for young people.”
As the world marks the day, African governments are urged to implement policies that produce a quality and vibrant teaching force
