An appraisal of 2026 World Teachers' Day, 'Standing with teachers,' by Fatai ADEWUYI

An appraisal of 2026 World Teachers’ Day, ‘Standing with teachers,’ by Fatai ADEWUYI

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Today marks 60 years of protecting the profession, advancing the status and shaping our future. How far have we gone as a nation to fulfil these aspirations, which is the intent of this write up?

We need to celebrate the teachers being nation builders and character builders. That is the essence of this holiday being declared to appreciate teachers all over the world. Beyond holiday declaration, the theme of this year’s teachers’ day, “Standing with teachers” means protecting the profession and advancing the status and shaping the future of teachers.

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The Nigerian government has gone the way to stand by teachers in recent times. Both states and federal governments have started protecting the profession and advancing its status by according teaching the status bestowed other professions like doctors, lawyers, engineers with the establishment of a teaching professional body called Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), making teachers now being certified as professionals. This is to enhance the status of Nigerian teachers as they can secure jobs in other countries.

The future of teachers is bright as teachers are now collecting relatively fat salaries and being compensated for their hardwork through awards being given to best teachers at both states and federal levels. The prospect of teaching in Nigeria and all over the world is more rewarding when being seen as the only profession whose members’ rewards are in heaven, even doctors that save lives are not given such heavenly promise. Most of us teachers found ourselves in the profession but I want us to count ourselves lucky for heavenly rewards are everlasting compared to earthly rewards that are temporary. The reasons for this heavenly reward is that teachers are nation builders and teachers are makers of members of other professions. So, as we celebrate teachers’ day today let us reflect as teachers by continuing to being passionate and diligent as we are like to our students or pupils what potters are to clay!

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So let us mould these children well both academically and morally so that they can become great future leaders and functional members of our societies. As passionate teachers that we are our rewards shall not only be in heaven but also on earth for passionate teachers start reaping their rewards one earth.

Aamin. Happy teachers’ day!

Adewuyi, principal of a private college in Ogbomoso, sends this piece via 08130851574.

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