Teachers in Honiara and Guadalcanal Province, on Friday, celebrated World Teachers’ Day in a vibrant and colourful way.
The celebration commenced with a parade from the Maranatha Hall, Lunga area after the morning devotion. The parade then headed down to Town Ground round about in West Honiara and then back to FOPA village, Panatina, where the official celebration continued.
Speaking at the celebration, Permanent Secretary (PS) for Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD), Dr Franco Rodie said it is worthwhile to reflect on the teachers’ valuable contribution to our education system.
“It is recognised that the right to quality education means the right to qualified teachers, whose professional status is acknowledged like any other professions.
“MEHRD recognises education as skills development to empower our citizens, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s growth,” Dr Rodie said.
He added that however, this cannot be done without the teachers who play a pivotal role in saving the future of our nursery students and driving educational progress.
He said that indeed, it is relevant that they ought to fully harness teachers’ potential.
Also, it is crucial that teachers’ voices are heard, valued, and respected in the decision-making process that affects their profession.
The theme for the event was “Valuing Teachers Voices Towards A New Social Contract of Education.”
Dr Rodie said that it is fitting to their local context where all their institutions are faced with lack of qualified teachers to deliver quality education that they are expected to deliver.
He especially in their remote schools where a lot of teachers wouldn’t like to go simply because it’s remote and isolated.
Dr Rodie added that the theme underscores the urgency of engaging with teachers to address the challenges they face, but most importantly, to acknowledge the benefit from the expert knowledge and input they bring to education.
Despite the challenges that their teachers face, Dr Rodie assures all teachers about what the National Government under MEHRD has been doing to address these challenges.
“We are going to turn the tide. We are going to transform our society. We are going to improve the quality of learning and teaching in our country so that the expectations of those who are critical to our education in terms of student learning outcomes.
“It is you and I. It is the ministry. It is the Solomon Islands National Teachers Association (SINTA).
“By working together with your support, we can and will improve the quality of education to the next level so that our country and our dream, our vision, can be achieved and become the people, the society, and the country we want to be,” Dr Rodie said.
By AGNES MENANOPO
Solomon Star, Honiara
