World Teachers' Day, October 5th

“A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning.” - Brad Henry

“One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.” - Carl Jung

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” - William Butler Yeats

One of the most important roles in society and education is carried out by teachers. To establish reasonable guidelines for teachers' rights, obligations, and working conditions, the Status of Teachers framework was developed. However, a lot of teachers still have to deal with harsh realities, low pay, packed classrooms, and lack of funding of classroom complexities. Approximately 86% of the world's teacher shortages occur in sub-Saharan Africa, making these issues particularly acute in low-income nations.

Nevertheless, educators continue to work through these challenges. The future skilled tradespeople, engineers, politicians - City Mayors, Provincial Premiers, Prime ministers and Presidents, and healthcare professionals who keep our societies running are their students, and teachers shape, mentor, educate, teach, encourage, and instill confidence in them. The careers of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, registered and practical nurses, dietitians, physical trainers, and physicians of all specialties all started in classrooms under the direction of teachers who recognized their students' potential before students did.

Consider that behind every career, job, and means of subsistence in the world is a teacher who influenced it. Expressions of gratitude on social media and in communities serve as a reminder of the profound impact teachers have on the future, one student at a time.