October is also National Teacher Appreciation Month, with World Teachers’ Day having been celebrated around the world on Saturday 5 October.
David Maynier, Western Cape Minister of Education, thanks all Western Cape teachers for the love and support they give to children every day.
“Teachers shape the lives of our youth and provide them with the tools to succeed in the workplace and as leaders in society,” he pointed out.
“They make a lasting and positive influence on our lives and that of our children, and this should be acknowledged.”
Maynier said while we should be celebrating our teachers throughout the year, let’s make the month of October exceptional by showering our teachers with words of gratitude.
“We are encouraging the public to show how much they value a past or present teacher by posting words of gratitude on social media using the hashtag #ThankATeacher.
“We are also encouraging our learners to write a letter or card to their teacher, or drawing a picture for their special teacher to share with them, in the run up to World Teachers’ Day. These small gestures of thanks go such a long way.”
As teachers and their noble profession are celebrated Maynier said his ministry was also aware of the pressures the national fiscal emergency has placed on teachers and schools.
“We will continue to work with other provinces through the Council of Education Ministers,” he said, “to outline the scale of the challenges facing provincial education departments, and to fight for our teachers.
“If there was ever a time to show how valuable our teachers are it is now. Share your words of gratitude to our teachers and show just how important they are to us all.”
