Media Release
Minister of Education Donald Grant
Western Cape

4 October, 2013

World Teacher’s Day – Paying tribute to their commitment and dedication.

Statement by Minister Donald Grant, Minister of Education, Western Cape

Tomorrow is a celebration to say thank-you to all our teachers on World Teacher’s Day.

In 1994, UNESCO inaugurated World Teachers’ Day in order to pay tribute to the contributions and achievements of teachers. The 5th of October was selected as the date to celebrate teachers as it represents the same date in 1966 when a special intergovernmental conference adopted the UNESCO recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers.

Tomorrow, we will be joined by over 100 countries, each paying tribute to their teachers and their immense contribution towards education.

I should like to acknowledge the commitment of our teachers to their profession and their dedication in providing our learners with a quality education.

Many of our teachers are simply not recognized often enough for their outstanding efforts in, often, very tough circumstances.

In fact, in recent years, some teachers have too often been the subject of unfair and unjustified generalised attacks and criticisms.

Our teachers are the key to quality education and I should like to thank them personally for their tireless effort and commitment.

In light of this celebration, I would also like to encourage members of the public and those that are interested in education to visit our website to view You Tube videos of our top teachers who won Provincial Teaching Awards over the last three years.

The public can access these videos by visiting our home page (wced.school.za) and clicking the orange button "Western Cape’s Top Teachers".

These teachers are examples of best practice and are an inspiration for all those considering teaching as a career.

(See: our Top Teachers).

They also reflect the level of professional talent we have here in the Western Cape.

For enquiries, contact Bronagh Casey:  072 724 1422 or bronagh.casey@westerncape.gov.za.


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