The World Teachers’ Day, marked on October 5, is a great global occasion that reminds all of the pivotal role these professionals play in imparting knowledge to young people.
This special day honours the role teachers play in shaping society and helping parents by guiding their children to become useful future citizens, who contribute to the success of their families, communities and the country. The day offers us an opportunity to not only celebrate our teachers for their sterling job of nurturing our young learners, but also to confront more fundamental challenges facing the noble profession.
As much as teachers help young people to identify and nurture their talents, their own rights and working conditions must also be promoted. Teachers routinely receive compensation that does not cushion them against the high cost of living.
As President William Ruto has reiterated, the government is committed to not just increasing the number of teachers recruited, but also improving their welfare. It has recruited 5,000 teachers this year and 100,000 in the past four years. Another 20,000 are expected to join by December, bringing the total to 120,000. This, he said, will be the largest expansion of the teaching workforce in our nation’s history. Also, he said, the budget for teacher promotions has been doubled to Sh2 billion.
Every teacher needs an opportunity to improve. The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has advertised 34,016 promotion opportunities. Indeed, standing with teachers is investing in the country’s future. The TSC is well aware that today’s classroom is changing rapidly and is enhancing technology. The demands of competency-based learning require teachers to move beyond traditional approaches and develop new ways of facilitating learning.
Achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal 4, which is providing quality education, depends entirely on recruiting qualified teachers. These educators deserve full support as they act as the young people’s mentors and trusted guides through personal and academic challenges.
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