The Ministry of Education yesterday morning organized a virtual event celebrating the World Teachers’ Day, which falls on 5 October.
During the event, the Union Minister for Education Dr Myo Thein Gyi said that the development of a country largely depends on the development of the education sector of that country, so the role of teachers is very significant.
He stressed that teachers can also provide leadership in trying to overcome various problems of the world, including the impacts of pandemic, by sharing knowledge. Teachers can shape the future of a country, he said.
Nowadays, the world faces various challenges such as economic issues, rapid changes of technology, uncertainties, climate changes and other natural disasters. One of the greatest challenges that the world is facing now is COVID-19 pandemic, which severely affected people’s health, economies and the entire society. During the event, the Union Minister pointed out that the COVID-19 crisis also affected educational systems worldwide.
He said that teachers from various fields in Myanmar will have to lead in responding to the COVID-19 related impacts on the education sector, and in shaping the future. He also highlighted the theme of 2020 World Teachers’ Day “Teachers: Leading in crisis, reimagining the future” and said that teachers’ efforts can be good examples to the people.
He said that education will have a crucial role in rehabilitating various sectors of the country in the post COVID-19 period. He said that teachers, who will shape the country, need to be healthy and have great capabilities.
During the event, he also reiterated what State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said in a forum on educational development in December 2018 by saying that teachers, who perform a key role in education, need to be very knowledgeable about their relevant fields and need to have goodwill.
Regarding showing good examples and providing effective leadership, the Union Minister said that teachers should be mentors for students not only in schools but also outside classrooms. He said that the Ministry will help all stakeholders to arrange various learning systems including “face-to-face learning, online learning, offline learning, and blended learning” systems.
The Union Minister said that the Ministry’s Education Channel will broadcast TV lessons and Myanmar Digital Education Platform will provide online lessons. Those who cannot access the Internet will be given DBE Boxes, which consists of teaching and learning contents in various formats such as videos, short stories, poems and illustrated materials, according to the Union Minister, who added that the Ministry will also cooperate with MRTV and privately-owned TV stations to deliver TV lecturers, in which teachers will have a key role.
He also highlighted the need to provide 21st Century skills to students, the need to nurture them and the need to create jobs for them.
During the ceremony, Secretary General of Myanmar National Commission for UNESCO Dr Kyi Shwin read the joint message sent by five UN organizations, and Myanmar Teachers’ Federation chairperson Dr Sai Khaing Myo Tun read the message of his federation.
On World Teachers’ Day, the Ministry of Education annually presents awards for honourable teachers, those who took no leave for 25 years and above, and those who had worked in difficult locations. As for this year, Education Research, Planning and Training Department Director-General Dr Win Tun presented the activities of the 14 honourable teachers, and announced the names of the six teachers who took no leave for 25 years and the 55 teachers who had worked in difficult locations in the Rakhine State.—MNA
(Translated by Maung Maung Swe)
