Appreciating the World Builders
Many developing/underdeveloped countries do not realise their significance to nation building. The celebration of these great role models in this age is far below the level of appreciation they deserve. They are the “builders and finishers” of our world. Can we do without them in this world? I am yet to get a convincing answer to that question. But who are they? What are their roles? Why are they important? Are they so important to the extent of being “world builders?”
They are role models who inspire and encourage students to strive for greatness and live to their full potentials. They are dynamic leaders who believe in change and look out for the best in the students. They have the capacity to prepare future leaders and develop them with the skills needed for the teeming population to succeed in the future. Teachers are great scholars whose responsibility is to impact knowledge, skills and more understanding to learners in order to develop their intellectual, mental, emotional and physical abilities; in order for them to succeed in future. They are the people to learn from, through their commitment to excellence and through their ability to make other people grow. They come in different forms, they can be anybody; a parent, a sibling, a friend. However, there is a special place for those who have taken this noble cause as a profession- the teachers.
Teachers are role models, they build the future. The teacher’s role goes beyond standing in front of students and lecturing. The greatest role of a teacher is to be an architect of future generations. This makes it important that only the best, the most intelligent and the most competent members of our society should be allowed to qualify for this noble profession. It is unfortunate to find that generally, the opposite is the case in Nigeria. The reality on ground is that this profession is populated with those who fail to find jobs in other sectors. They have no zeal for the monumental duty expected of them in this profession and recklessly play with the destiny of the nation. When we speak of a good teacher, it means that teacher must be a model of faith and piety and should have a good knowledge of a particular subject.
Broadly speaking, the function of teachers is to help students learn by imparting knowledge into them and by setting up a situation in which students can and will learn effectively. But teachers fill more complex roles, which vary from one society to another and from one educational level to another. Some of their roles include; mediation of learning, enforcing discipline, substituting parents, confidants to students, judges of achievement, scholars and research specialists, public servants, surrogates of middle-class morality, expert in some area of knowledge or skills and agents of social change. With these complex roles of a professional and competent teacher, is there any more value of teachers to nation building? .
The Education Commission (1964-1966) emphatically opines "the quality, competence and character of teachers to be the most significant factor influencing the quality of education and its contribution to national development." A nation is built by citizens, citizens are moulded by teachers and teachers are made by teacher-educators. Chanakya has rightly stated, "Teacher is the maker of nation." Therefore, for the development of the country, it is very important to have good teachers and this can only be done with a good system of teacher education. Building a flourishing nation and a truly prosperous society starts with teachers. "Knowledge acquired/received without teachers’ guidance can be compared to a blind man walking without his stick." The teacher is a representative of the society who inculcates moral precepts. In the development of a country, great attention has to be paid to education and learning, as well as good morals and nobody is more suited to assist in this process than the humble teacher. Moreover, a corrupt and decadent class of teachers can harm a nation more seriously than a class of corrupt and perverted judiciary, army, police, bureaucracy, politicians or technocrats. The growth of a country is in the hands of a competent and dedicated teacher- the catalyst, the nation builder.
Considering what teachers stand for in the development of a country, why do most third-world countries still find it difficult to value or appreciate their teachers? Can this world do without them?
There are those who believe with technological advancements, teachers will soon become redundant. Sugata Mitra, a professor of Educational technology believes the world will exist without teachers. He said, “it's quite fashionable to say that the educational system is broken. It's not broken. It's wonderfully constructed. It's just that we don't need it anymore.” Mitra also believes teachers are middlemen that can be eliminated in the process of learning. He propounded a method to actualize his motion which he tagged "hole in the wall" where computer is used for teaching. Without being rude, Mitra and others of like-mind are not being truthful in this quest. Ironically, from Mitra’s theory, there still has to be someone who will instruct learners when on how to use the computer system because learners are not born with this knowledge. As stated earlier the role of teachers extend beyond merely impacting knowledge of a particular subject; without teachers, no nation can be liberated, no nation can grow and the world will be so miserable. No matter the level of advancement in technology and educational technology, teachers cannot be replaced. In fact, technology will be taught in schools by teachers.
Everyone reading this article has passed through a teaching process either formal or informal. With this uncontested truism that teachers are the source of greatness for future generations, why is it that the teaching profession suffers most in terms of recognition, entitlements and respect especially in third-world countries. According to Salako O.A (Communicator), teachers are meant to suffer since government fails to admit that teachers are the builders and moulders of the nation. Government has taken the teaching profession as a profession meant for hungry job-seekers, lazy people that need nothing apart for money. According to UNESCO, World teacher’s day represents a significant token of the awareness, understanding and appreciation displayed for the vital contribution that teachers make to education and development.
It appears some developing countries have another interpretation for Teachers’ Day. For example, in Nigeria, the Federal Government announced series of incentives expected to boost the morale and productivity of teachers that kicked-off on Monday, 5th October 2015. The question that comes to mind is, “why the promise now?” Were teachers not relevant before this time? Many teachers have lamented the fact that teachers are not appreciated either by the parents or the government. As a teacher/housemaster, I have seen parents that do really appreciate teachers, especially me the housemasters. Ironically, most of the parents who show disdain for teachers are the educated and successful ones whose successes were inadvertently a result of a teacher. On the part of government, it is believed that teachers do not contribute to the economy of the nation, rather, they take huge amount of money monthly as salaries. With this fact, government see them as a non-profit making group not worth any investment. With this, one is tempted to say that there might be an improvement in teachers’ appreciation if the government’s free education is scrapped. There are many countries where the government provide free education (e.g. Germany, Finland, etc) yet teachers are valued and teaching is made lucrative as a profession not just a mere job.
It is a common belief in this part of the world that teachers are not valued because their teachers “reward is in heaven.” Must a teacher die before being respected or recognised? How can a country's educational system be effective when teachers embark on incessant strike actions to fight for their entitlements? Politicians have never gone on strike because of unpaid entitlements; why teachers? Teachers build the nation and their value cannot be taken for granted. Even though the teaching profession is not as lucrative as oil and gas, the pertinent question to ask ourselves is, “who are engineers, geologists, accountants, miners, even Governors and Presidents without teachers?
Teachers can only do their best in terms of formal education but the best can be achieved if it is combined with commitment, hard work, conducive working environment, reasonable funding and prayers from the learner, parents, government and the society at large.
All in all, teachers should be greatly valued as they help in laying effective foundation for our society. The importance of the teacher as a nation builder cannot be over-emphasized. Good teachers need to be themselves, constantly seeking knowledge, of good character, high motivation, creative, innovative and effective in teaching strategies. The good deeds of teachers are great. Because of them, we will grow to become knowledgeable people who will be of use to society. Teachers should be valued on earth like a diamond that glitters than gold.