A worldwide shortage of some 69 million teachers holds a serious threat for education as a fundamental right. Therefore this year’s celebration of World Teachers’ Day focuses on the theme “The right to education means the right to a qualified teacher”.
           
The United Nations celebrates the day internationally on 5 October but in South Africa this date falls in the school holiday. To ensure that teachers get the recognition they deserve, the Federation of Governing Bodies of South African Schools (FEDSAS) celebrates World Teachers’ Day in South Africa on the first Friday of the fourth term. This year the date is 12 October.
           
“This year is also the 70th celebration of education as a fundamental right as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” says Mr Paul Colditz, CEO of FEDSAS.
           
Colditz says although South African children also have the right to free and compulsory education with inclusive and equal access, recent media reports paint a dark picture. “Thousands of public schools in South Africa are without a school principal or deputy principal. The shortage of teachers in the classroom is even more significant. This means that not all children have equal access to education. We see the impact of this every year when parents desperately try to get their children into schools where they know they will receive quality education.”

Against this background FEDSAS’ aim of quality education in public schools becomes even more crucial. “It is not enough to honour educators once a year. In fact, the profession should become honourable again. This will only be achieved through cooperation of all role-players. Young students are not going to choose to become teachers when poor management, administrative challenges and even their safety in the classroom are such big issues.”

Colditz says, however, that it remains important to celebrate those teachers for whom the task is a calling. “These people keep the wheels in motion. They form, teach and inspire children and shape a new generation of leaders for our country.”

FEDSAS are calling on young and old to contact their school or a teacher on 12 October to thank them for their crucial role. The staff of FEDSAS’ national office in Bloemfontein will spend the day at the Dr Böhmer Skills School in the city.
 
(FEDSAS is a voluntary association of school governing bodies of public schools and supports quality education in these schools. More than 2000 public schools are already members of FEDSAS).