Introduction
Teachers and educators play a vital role in the lives of young people. They help mold young minds, set them up for success, and inspire them to do well in life. Teachers have a significant lifelong impact on their students. This impact involves teaching particular academic skills and, more importantly, ensuring the overall well-being of the young people in their care. The importance of teachers cannot be overemphasized; it is a role that requires a lot of patience, understanding, and a lifetime of dedication.
Teachers are arguably the backbone of society; they are role models whose influence can affect how young people perceive themselves and their place in society. Strong relationships between teachers and students have been consistently found to be associated with positive student outcomes. Teachers’ welcome students into learning experiences either by word, deed, or practice—regardless of what background or personality they bring with them. With all that they do, it only fits that they stay motivated.
In October 2020, President Paul Kagame paid tribute to the teachers in Rwanda on World Teacher Day where he appreciated their essential service and commitment to their roles. Held annually on the 5th of October since 1994, World Teachers Day commemorates the signing of the 1966 UNESCO/ILO Recommendation concerning the status of teachers. World Teachers Day is a day to celebrate the teaching profession, drawing attention to the voices of teachers, who are at the heart of efforts to attain the target of leaving no one behind.
More Than just a teacher
Currently, in both primary and secondary education, the percentage of teachers has decreased in the last two decades in Sub-Saharan Africa. This trend affects both male and female teachers. Sub-Saharan Africa has a teacher shortage of about 4.1 million teachers – almost 1 million in primary education and 3.3 million in secondary. New teacher projections based on the UIS data indicate that by 2030, the countries in this region need to have recruited more than 15 million teachers to achieve the fourth sustainable development goal . It is critical not to lose good teachers due to a lack of job security, low wages, and loss of motivation. Improving teacher support and working conditions will go a long way in making them feel appreciated, thereby reducing teacher shortage.
Furthermore, the Covid-19 pandemic has shone a spotlight on the role teachers play in the lives of young people. In a blink of an eye, the pandemic imposed a radical switch to remote teaching and learning that many people, even parents, hoped would be temporary. In various parts of the world, teachers carried on their respective endeavors to their best abilities ensuring that learning continued. Teaching goes beyond day-to-day activities; it includes the numerous moments teachers put their students first. They understand that one of their responsibilities is to give guidance and support to their students and encourage them to achieve their academic goals.
In partnership with LEAP Africa, teacher mentors on the Mastercard Foundation Transformative Leadership Programme have displayed this form of commitment. As the covid-19 pandemic spread across the African continent and the world, schools were closed, and teachers found themselves working from home. The sudden closure of schools prompted Teacher Mentors, especially those located in rural communities, to figure out innovative means of ensuring their students continued learning. The transition to remote learning for some teachers was not straightforward. During this period, teachers were under immense pressure to work harder and look for innovative teaching methods.
In some cases, some of the Teacher Mentors resorted to contacting their students via text messages and phone calls, creating virtual communities on platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp where they could engage with their students. Some held physical meetings in public places within their communities with their students. A Teacher Mentor from Kenya, Mr. Onyango, engaged his students in his district during the lockdown with the instant messaging platform, WhatsApp. He did this to ensure that his students were not idle and could engage in learning and other extracurricular activities. With efforts like this, how can teachers be appreciated and supported more?
Not Just a day for Appreciation
Teachers change lives every day, and it is vital to ensure they know they are appreciated. Awards and events are unique ways to do something extra for them , but what is important is simply showing gratitude . In July 2021, in collaboration with Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) and Mastercard, LEAP Africa awarded Teacher Mentors for their outstanding roles in the Mastercard Transformative Leadership Programme. This award ceremony was to appreciate outstanding Teacher Mentors on the programme. Joan Tegbe, a teacher from Ghana National College, received the award for ‘The Most Responsive Teacher Mentor’. This awardcategory recognises the engagement, responsiveness, and timely completion of program activities by teachers. The award ceremony was also a time of celebration for all the teacher mentors who were given gifts and share memories with each other.
Appreciating teachers means supporting them in sustaining their work to help students learn, especially those for whom society too often has low expectations. If teachers are to be genuinely appreciated, they must be given opportunities to improve their professional and personal development. This means offering career pathways for teachers, so they have ways to build their capacity. This also means school heads should reinforce that there is room for growth and support for teachers especially when they need it.. Therefore, focus should shift to the continuous professional development of teachers through capacity-building programs such as training workshops and professional examinations to improve their professional knowledge and skills. Investing in quality teacher training will attract and maintain the best in the profession. Teachers who desire to further their education by gaining higher degrees can be supported through loans and scholarships grants made readily available to them.
One of the most challenging aspects of continuous professional development is transferring what is learned outside the classroom to instructional practice. Teachers who receive on-the-job support, guidance, and feedback from a supervisor or school leader can appropriately apply new skills and strategies and adopt a more diverse range of instructional practices than teachers who do not receive such support. Successful professional development also requires mentorship, coaching and follow-up. These are effective ways to support teachers and sustain their motivation whether they are new to the profession or have been teachers for years. School administrators can find mentorship and coaching useful in maintaining teacher motivation and providing the necessary support they need.
Finally, providing a conducive environment with computers and internet facilities is vital. Therefore, the government should provide adequate instructional materials for schools that teachers can use to aid their teaching. There should be more conscious efforts on the part of Governments and school leaders to increase the wages of teachers. This will address both intrinsic motivation (professional development) and extrinsic motivation (salaries and incentives).
By Dr. Aderonke Folorunsho
