lous25
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Subject: The UN Secretary-General Message on World Teachers' Day 5 October 2012 Sat 6 Oct - 19:30 |
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U N I T E D N A T I O N S THE SECRETARY-GENERAL -- MESSAGE ON WORLD TEACHERS DAY 5 October 2012 No education system is better than its teachers. Teachers are the custodians of learning; they impart knowledge, values and skills; at their best, they tap into the hopes and talents of young people and help them to grow into productive citizens. Yet too often, teachers are not given the recognition and support they deserve. World Teachers Day reminds us of their heavy responsibilities as well as the challenges they face, particularly at a time of global economic difficulty. We should not let teachers and children pay the cost of the crisis; we must protect our education systems from current financial pressures and budgetary constraints. One of the priorities of my new global initiative, Education First, is to recruit and train more teachers. The world needs about 2 million more teachers to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of universal primary education by 2015. The lack of teachers undermines not only the progress made in enrolling children in primary education, but also our efforts to improve school and learning environments. We must also ensure that teachers are well prepared and well supported. Without qualified teachers, there is no quality education. Pre-service and in-service training are crucial, as are good working conditions, commensurate remuneration and adequate career development opportunities. Teachers themselves have a responsibility to create safe and conducive environments for children to thrive. They can also serve as powerful models of tolerance, good citizenship and solidarity with the disadvantaged – a role I hope all will embrace. On World Teachers Day, I pay tribute to the millions of teachers around the world who are working with passion and skill to nurture their students and whose influence on our world is potentially profound. Let us recognize that investing in teachers is a wise investment in our efforts to build strong economies, cohesive societies and a future of dignity and opportunity for all.
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lous25
Site Owner
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Subject: Re: The UN Secretary-General Message on World Teachers' Day 5 October 2012 Sat 6 Oct - 19:53 |
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Joint Message on the occasion of World Teachers’ Day
Message from the Heads of UNESCO, UNDP, UNICEF, ILO and Education International on the occasion of World Teachers’ Day, 5 October 2012
"On this World Teachers’ Day, we take a stand for teachers. Teachers are the foundation of good schools, and good schools are the pillars of healthy and democratic communities.
Teachers are the keys to reaching the Education for All goals.
An estimated 1.7 million more teacher positions are required to reach the goals of Universal Primary Education by 2015. As we recruit new teachers, we must continue to improve the quality of teaching and learning. Governments are urged to provide teachers with access to training opportunities and continued professional development,based on appropriate qualifications. Attracting committed and diverse teachers requires environments that value professional autonomy and equality. Teachers need to be supported in fulfilling their responsibilities to students, and their voices must be listened to by school leaders, education systems and public authorities. Teachers’ salaries must be set objectively and fairly, such that remuneration is commensurate with the importance of the profession and the qualifications and responsibilities of individual teachers.
Teachers, in turn, must be accountable to their students and communities. The teaching profession is encouraged to design and implement teacher codes of conduct, based on the highest ethical and professional standards, and to be oriented around the goal of teaching all students effectively and equally.
This World Teachers’ Day is an opportunity to honour the women and men who inspire, challenge and nurture us. On this day, we call for the creation of supportive teaching environments, adequate teacher training and safeguards for the rights of teachers. We must break the vicious cycle of declining professional conditions for teachers in order to improve the quality of learning for all. The world expects a lot from teachers – they, in turn, are right to expect as much from us. This World Teachers’ Day is an opportunity to take a stand for all teachers."
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