Teachers are an extremely important asset for any society.
Minister for Education Nick Kuman, when celebrating with teachers during the World Teachers Day on Oct 5 in Port Moresby, said teachers are the real nation builders.
“Teachers are the ones who educate the youth of society who, in turn, become the leaders of the next generation of people and play an important role in developing their country.
“Teachers educate the children in their most impressionable years.
“Teachers are the real nation builders who enrich a young generation of children so that the future is a safe, secure and great place to live in for every person in the society.
“Teachers are the number one priority for the Ministry and Department of Education. Training and development of teachers will continue to be a core priority for this Government.”
Kuman added that as the student population increases with better access to learning, the Education Department will ensure that there are enough quality teachers, trained in the relevant sector pedagogy, wherever required to meet the student needs.
“That means offering high-quality training to more students in teachers’ colleges and offering existing teachers professional development and the chance to upgrade their knowledge and skills must occur.
“We will continue to work together with the Teaching Service Commission, the PNG Teachers’ Association and the Church Education Agencies to ensure that our teachers are well looked after in terms of their welfare.
“Our country has come this far because of the many sacrifices made by our teachers and the love they had for teaching.”
Currently, there are about 58,000-plus teachers teaching throughout the country.
World Teachers’ Day, held annually on October 5 since 1994, commemorates teachers’ organisations worldwide.
Its aim is to mobilise support for teachers and to ensure that the needs of future generations will continue to be met by teachers.