CATEGORY:CELEBRATION
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By Wallace J.A.(Inside Grenada correspondent)


GRENADA (October 5, 2006) – Many teachers throughout the tri-island state turned out to work today wearing their union jerseys , not as a means of protest, but as a way of drawing attention to the invaluable role of teachers within society as well as recognizing and celebrating World Teachers’ Day (WTD).

This year’s celebration is particularly significant since it marks the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the UNESCO/ILO Recommendation on the Status of Teachers. UNESCO inaugurated October 5 as World Teachers’ Day in 1994 to commemorate the signing of the Recommendations. The theme for this year’s World Teachers’ Day celebration is “Quality Teachers for Quality Education.”

Here in Grenada, the national executive of the Grenada Union of Teachers (GUT), as well as the district branches and individual schools, have planned activities to commemorate World Teachers’ Day. President of the GUT, Mr. Marvin Andall, will be addressing the nation later on today, both on radio and on television. The St.David’s Branch has planned a cocktail reception while the St.Andrew’s Branch has planned a social and a discussion session later on this evening on the Bathway Beach. The St.George’s Branch, among other things, will today recognize two teachers who have been in the profession for forty (40) years.

The role of the teacher in modern societies is no longer just limited to academics but it has grown very challenging over the years. Teachers today are expected to perform a multiplicity of tasks as they try to educate the nation’s children, providing them with the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values needed to enable them to make meaningful contributions to the society of which they are an integral part. Very often, this priceless contribution seems to go unnoticed and unappreciated by many, however, teachers remain resolute in their efforts to provide quality education to the children of the nation.

Grenadian Connection wishes to take this opportunity to wish the teachers of the nation a wonderful day as they celebrate WTD and urge them to continue making the important contributions and the selfless sacrifices that they have been making over the years towards the educational development of the nation’s children. WE SALUTE YOU TEACHERS!!