WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY
"Teachers are always learning - not only are they committed to encouraging and guiding our children and students, but they are also dedicated to maintaining and updating their own skills. This year, World Teachers' Day will particularly focus on celebrating our teachers' own commitment to learning."
(Ms Carmel Kerin, Presiding Member, Teachers Registration Board of South Australia, Media Release, World Teachers' Day, 26 October 2007)
The Teachers Registration Board joined with children and students, parents, other state and territory teacher regulatory authorities and the community on Friday 26 October 2007, to celebrate World Teachers' Day. This sepcial day provided a unique opportunity for the Board to publicly acknowledge and to promote the invaluable contribution made by teachers to the South Australian community.
At a state and national level, World Teachers' Day recognised and celebrated teachers as learners "embarking on journeys of professional learning today that inspire and energise students now and into the future."
To celebrate World Teachers' Day the Board placed an advertisement in the Advertiser. In addition stories were prepared on behalf of the Board and released to the media in metropolitan and country areas. Kimberley Wood, teacher at Parndana Area School was asked whether it was important for teachers to undertake proefssional learning.
"I think it is important for teachers to continue learning as it demonstrates the importance of learning to our students.
The Board thanks all teachers who agreed to share their stories about their commitment to professional development.
Extracts from stories of professional learning
If you'd like to share your experiences about professional learning as a teacher, please contact us
What is the significance of World Teachers’ Day?
On 5 October 1994, World Teachers’ Day was inaugurated by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to commemorate the 1966 joint signing of the UNESCO and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. In adopting this Recommendation, governments unanimously recognised the importance for every society of having competent, qualified and motivated teachers.
According to UNESCO, World Teachers’ Day represents a significant token of the awareness, understanding and appreciation displayed for the vital contribution that teachers make to education and development.
World Teachers’ Day is celebrated in over 100 countries on the first Friday in October however, as Australian school holidays are usually at this time, we in Australia celebrate the day nationally on the last Friday of October each year.
