World Teachers’ Day – 5th October 2021
Every year, on 5th October, TUI participates in World Teachers’ Day, an important celebration of, and tribute to, the world’s educators.
Education during the pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the crucial role and contribution of education and of teachers to society and to communities. In Ireland, and throughout the world, teachers and lecturers have risen magnificently to the enormous challenges of maintaining educational continuity in the most difficult of circumstances.
Despite the stark realities of decades of underinvestment in Irish education, which the pandemic has thrown into sharp relief, you have shown leadership and resilience and demonstrated admirable commitment to your profession and to your students. This has involved unprecedented, and at times overnight, changes to how we teach as well as enormous stress and additional workload, while caring for our own families and loved ones throughout the crisis.
Minute’s silence at 12:00 noon, 5th October 2021
Since its institution in 1994, the annual celebration of World Teachers’ Day has never been more timely or more poignant. Besides the additional workload and educational challenges which have been met with such fortitude, significant numbers of educators around the world have died as a result of the pandemic; others continue to suffer long-term damage to their health from having been infected; large numbers have lost loved ones.
On October 5th 2021, the global education community will join in one-minute’s silence at 12 noon (local time) to pay tribute to educators lost through the pandemic.
TUI is asking that, where possible, members mark this minute’s silence in our workplaces.
The minute’s silence will be marked also at TUI Head Office and a link will be issued for members who wish to view this.
Education International (to which TUI is affiliated) will hold a special tribute with organisations from around the world with the theme that these, our colleagues, will be #AlwaysPresent.
Register at www.teachercovidmemorial.org/tribute-event/
Teachers at the heart of education recovery
Besides this more sombre aspect to this year’s World Teachers’ Day, it is important also to celebrate the profession and our enormous contribution to society. World Teachers’ Day promotes the ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers (1966) and the UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher Education Teaching Personnel (1997).
UNESCO is highlighting this year the theme of “Teachers at the heart of education recovery”.
wtd-2021-concept-note-en.pdf (unesco.org)
The focus on working conditions, professional development, teacher shortages and the status of the profession resonates with much of TUI’s campaigning in recent years.
How to mark the occasion?
To celebrate the teaching profession and as an acknowledgement of its importance – and yours – in promoting and sustaining TUI’s core values of justice and inclusion, the members of TUI in schools, colleges, institutes, technological universities and centres are encouraged to mark the day with the purchase of refreshments for members. The cost of purchase can be recouped from the local Branch by submitting receipts directly to the TUI Branch Treasurer.