As the world marks Teachers’ Day every October 5, teachers have been urged to remain passionate about the teaching profession to enable them to make meaningful and positive impacts on pupils and students.
The Head Teacher of Kingdom Heritage Model School (KHMS), Mgbuoba, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Okparaocha Precious, gave the advice while commemorating World Teachers’ Day in Port Harcourt.
Precious said a teacher who is passionate about the profession and loves what he or she does would be better positioned to impart knowledge and shape the lives of students.
She described teaching as a fulfilling profession, noting that seeing her pupils excel and succeed in life gives her a sense of accomplishment.
“I feel happy, great and fulfilled being a teacher. I am really living my life, to impact knowledge in these children is one of my utmost desires. When I see my children excel and succeed in life, I count it as one of the achievements I have made,” she said.
According to her, teaching requires passion, commitment and dedication, stressing that the reward of the profession goes beyond financial benefits.
“Your reward as a teacher is not just in heaven; it starts from earth, and you have to be an impactful teacher. You have to have passion for teaching before you can impart knowledge effectively,” she added.
Precious also expressed concern over the perception among some members of the younger generation, particularly Gen Z, that teaching is a profession for the poor.
She said the perception could change if teachers were adequately remunerated and their welfare prioritised by governments and school proprietors.
“Gone are the days when teachers were seen as poor people or people who did not matter. Teachers stand out, they are educators and pace-setters, when you know what you are doing, you will be paid well,” she said.
The head teacher disclosed that teachers at KHMS receive their salaries regularly, including an additional leave allowance that effectively amounts to 13 months’ salary annually.
She stressed that the quality of teachers in a school was more important than its physical structures, describing teachers as the foundation of academic excellence.
“If you have a school and you want to get the best, the school is not just the building, the school is the manpower there. The quality of teachers you have determines the academic excellence of the school,” Precious said.
She called on governments, proprietors and proprietresses to invest more in teachers’ welfare by paying them promptly and adequately.
According to her, teachers who are properly cared for would be motivated to deploy their talents and expertise towards creating a conducive learning environment for pupils and students.
Precious also appealed to teachers to remain committed to their responsibilities, stressing that every profession depended on teachers for its development.
“Without teachers, there will be no doctors and there will be no other professions. Teachers are the ones who groom these lives, without us, there will be no school. A teacher is the school, and the school is teaching,” she said.
