The World Teachers’ Day is being celebrated today (Wednesday) across the country and in more than a 100 countries around the world, to pay tribute to teachers for their contribution in educating generations and ensuring progress of society. The day will be observed under the theme ‘Teachers for Gender Equality’.
In order to celebrate this special day different programmes, seminars and walks would be held in the city to highlight the role of teachers in society. The day would focus on the need to ensure equality in educational policies for millions of female teachers. The Punjab Professors and Lecturers Association (PPLA) announced it would demonstrate at the MAO College, on the occasion of World Teachers’ Day. Talking to Pakistan Today, PPLA President Zahid Sheikh said the Punjab government was treating them like a stepmother which was why they were celebrating the day as a “Feryaad Teachers Day.” He said the CM did not know of the miseries they were facing and problems such as up-gradation, time-scales and the lack of provision of other facilities were not being solved.
Punjab Teacher Union (PTU) Chairman Allah Bakhsh demanded the Punjab government make a separate cell for solving teachers’ problems. He added that PTU would organise a seminar in Children Library on Teachers’ Day, giving a platform to discuss teachers’ problems. University of Engineering and Technology (UET) student Munawar said, “We love our teachers, as teachers create all other professions. We will show our solidarity with them”. Anum, a Punjab University (PU) student said that a good teacher was like a candle, as it consumed itself to light the way for others. Government Islamia College Civil Lines student Ijaz said that people should respect teachers because they play a vital role for nation building. The World Teachers’ Day held annually on October 5 since 1994.
According to UNESCO, World Teachers’ Day represents a significant token of the awareness, understanding and appreciation displayed for the vital contribution that teachers make to education and development. Education International (EI), the global union federation that represents education professionals worldwide, strongly believes that World Teachers’ Day should be internationally recognised and celebrated around the world. EI also believes that the principles of the 1966 and 1997 recommendations should be considered for implementation in all nations.
Over 100 countries observe World Teachers’ Day. The efforts of EI and its 401 member organisations have contributed to this widely spread recognition. Every year, EI launches a public awareness campaign to highlight the contributions of the teaching profession.
