SACE ON WORLD TEACHERS DAY - 5 OCTOBER

Since 1994 World Teachers’ Day is celebrated on 5 October. It is an opportunity for Education International and its member organisations to celebrate the profession and to promote international standards for the teaching profession.
The theme for this year is ‘TEACHERS FOR GENDER EQUALITY’

Regardless of the significant achievements that have been made in the fight for gender parity in education, indications are that strategic portfolios in education remain the monopoly of male educators.  Increased efforts will have to be made to improve this situation.
In support of this year’s theme, SACE is calling on the Department of Education to begin to make the issues of transformation at the workplace (at schools) a priority. Female educators should be elevated to strategic responsibilities, this means that female educators ought to be made key role players in deciding the future of learners as well as decision makers on the strategic educational direction in their respective schools.

The issue of parity at the workplace has more than before taken centre stage in our society. The issue of the slow progress regarding transformation in our society is well captured in the 11th Employment Equity published by the Department of Labour. It is therefore, in this sense that SACE urges its stakeholders to make strides in this regard. We urge all teachers to celebrate this day with this great message in mind.

SACE will hold the national celebration of the (WTD) in the Western Cape. As part of the celebration, best performing teachers will receive awards.

Educators are also urged to celebrate this significant day in their respective localities, (viz. regions and provinces). In marking this day, they could engage in  organising a “ run for good health” marathon , provide assistance at old age homes, hospice, clean school premises, paint school buildings, engage in fund-raising activities in the interest of their schools, organise workshops to discuss gender issues etc.  SACE urges schools to forward feed-back on how they celebrated this day (pictures of the celebration may also be included). This feedback will be included in the SACE newsletter and website.  Communities/learners can also organize activities like commending past and present teachers through poems, cultural activities, etc.

Celebrate and enjoy the World Teacher’s Day