From September 5 to October 5, we join the world in acknowledging the efforts of teachers in what has been known since 1994 as the World Teachers Day. We honor teachers and recognize their contributions to education and development.
For the first time since then, the celebration will be virtual, given the protocols and restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic which has, since the lockdown in this country on March 17, infected and killed thousands, including frontliners who have stood up against this deadly virus.
This year, the World Teachers Day theme—Teachers: Leading in Crisis, Reimagining the Future—is well-timed, considering the present health crisis, although the celebration will be online.
But that does not stop us from saluting the teachers who continue to be the molders of young minds, young generations who will someday be effective followers and leaders of their communities or, on the main, this country.
The World Teachers Day, co-convened in partnership with UNICEF, the International Labor Organization and Education International, gives us the opportunity to mark the progress and reflect on ways to counter the remaining challenges for the promotion of the teaching profession.
While we are in this, we honor the nearly 900,000 Department of Education public school teachers and the perhaps as many private school teachers who continue to burn the midnight oil to teach the young Filipinos to become worthy holders of good manners and right conduct.
This is the time to take stock of achievements and draw attention to the voices of teachers who are at the heart of efforts to achieve global education target of leaving no one behind—with or without pandemic.
Verily, the COVID-19 pandemic has consequentially added to the challenges faced by already over-extended education systems throughout the world.
More than ever, we must work with teachers to protect the right to education and guide it into the unfolding landscape brought about by the pandemic which put this world at the crossroads.
We agree with education authorities the issue of teacher leadership in relation to crisis responses is not just timely, but critical in terms of the contributions teachers have made to provide remote learning, support vulnerable populations, re-open schools, and ensure that learning gaps have been mitigated.
As we inch closer to the opening of classes in the Philippines on October 5, the discussions surrounding World Teachers Day will also address the role of teachers in building resilience and shaping the future of education and the teaching profession.
Despite the constraints raised by the pandemic, we raise straight away our appreciation for the efforts of teachers from Tawi Tawi to as far north as Batanes who bring into play their best efforts despite the pandemic and think about how to upgrade their learning modules for their students.