Ramallah, 29 October 2019 – Today, UNESCO National Office for Palestine and the Ministry of Education (MoE) celebrated World Teacher’s Day at the National Institute for Educational Training (NIET) in Ramallah. In 2019, World Teachers’ Day celebrates teachers with the theme “Young Teachers: The future of the Profession.” The day provides the occasion to celebrate the teaching profession worldwide, to take stock of achievements, and to address some of the issues central for attracting and keeping the brightest minds and young talents in the profession.
In his opening remarks, His Excellency Dr. Marwan Awartani, Minister of Education, highlighted that teachers are at the heart of the entire educational system. He further stated that Palestinian teachers combine creativity, excellence and resilience in their teaching and that the Ministry of Education is striving to improve the teaching profession and the working conditions of teachers to preserve their dignity and to improve their school environment to be safe and motivating.
Mr. Junaid Sorosh-Wali, Officer-in-Charge, Head of Office at UNESCO National Office for Palestine expressed his profound gratitude to all teachers in Palestine for their tireless commitment, limitless contributions, dedication and continued hard work. He further emphasized that they are the main pillar for achieving inclusive and equitable quality education for all, which we are, together with the Ministry of education and partners trying to achieve. Quality education cannot be achieved without qualified teachers. Mr. Sorosh-Wali also commended the leadership of the MoE for having put teachers as a key priority in the reform of the Ministry in recent years.
Furthermore, Mr. Saed Erzeiqat, Secretary General of the Palestinian Teachers' Union, Mr. Muawiya E’mar, UNRWA Chief of Education and ILO Representative Mr. Munir Kleibo all expressed their gratitude to teachers and the teaching profession in their opening remarks. During the event, a panel discussion took place to discuss the MoE’s vision towards the teaching profession followed by success stories from teachers in Palestine and a music performance by teachers.Since 1994, World Teachers’ Day brings together teachers every year on 5 October to celebrate the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers.
This Recommendation sets benchmarks regarding the rights and responsibilities of teachers and standards for their initial preparation and further education, recruitment, employment, teaching and learning conditions.
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For more information on this project, please contact Ms. Sonia Ezam, Senior Programme Officer at the Education Unit of UNESCO National Office for Palestine, at s.ezam@unesco.org