On this World Teachers Day, we are honoured to express our deep appreciation to every teacher in Africa and to thank them for their wonderful work of service to the continent’s future. Dear Teachers, if indeed Education is the most important instrument for harnessing Africa’s human potential, you Teachers are the key to operationalizing that instrument. The Teacher is key to ensuring that our youthful population develop the skills, knowledge, attitudes, values and competences required for achieving Africa’s Agenda 2063- a peaceful, prosperous and integrated Africa. The African Agenda 2063 calls for an Education and Skills revolution and active promotion of science, technology, research and innovation, to make this the African century. It will be impossible without the Teacher- well qualified, adequately motivated and supported, and imbued with values of responsible citizenship that she or he will be able to pass onto the children and youth under their charge.
In recognition of the central role of the Teacher in revitalizing our education development and delivery, the AU Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 16-25) identifies Teacher Development as the first Strategic Objective. The Objective is to revitalize the teaching profession to ensure quality and relevance at all levels by:
o Recruiting, training, and deploying well qualified teachers as well as promote their continuous professional development with emphasis on instilling core values, results and accountability to learners
o Provide good working and living conditions to teachers in order to enhance their status and value in society
o Develop quality and relevant teaching and learning materials
o Enhance quality assurance and assessment mechanisms for learning outcomes
o Strengthen teacher training curricula to include life skills and other key competencies
o Identify and reward dedicated and innovative teachers
To provide a basis for implementing this strategy, we carried out a Study on the Training, Living and Working Conditions of Teachers in Member States, as we had been requested to do so by the Heads of State and Government of the African Union. We encourage you to find a copy and read for yourselves the findings and recommendations of the study. We look forward to establishing teaching as a foremost profession which will attract the best students, because it is the most important work towards human empowerment, and the development of capacities to innovate and provide transformative leadership in every sector, towards sustainable development.
On this special day for Teachers, we at the African Union Commission reiterate our commitment to working progressively with Member States and partners to ensure that the aspirations of the African Union Commission towards teachers and the teaching profession become a reality for all teachers across Africa. We aspire that every child must have a well-motivated, well qualified, highly professional teacher.
On behalf of the millions of children and young people you have helped and continue to help, and on behalf of the industries for which you have produced highly competent and responsible workers; for the governments for which you have produced leaders of integrity; for the children for whom you have produced responsible parents; and for ourselves whom you have given lasting memories of your commitment and patient guidance; we say a big thank you for your selfless acts of service to the continent.
May God bless you and replenish your labour of love.
We call on everyone who values a teacher to reach out today and say thank you as well!
#Tag a teacher or share this to celebrate a teacher today.
H.E. Prof. Sarah Anyang Agbor