Few professions are as challenging and special as that of a teacher. It demands discipline, competence, and dedication, as it is from this that all other professions are built and launched into the world.
Family education is often recognized as fundamental in a child's life, but it is at school that children learn to better understand the world, interpret it, and, consequently, develop the foundations of their socialization. It is in this space that the role of the teacher becomes immeasurable and irreplaceable.
In this context, the role of the teacher is exalted, as they play a fundamental role in the intellectual, social, and emotional development of students. They are the key to building a more just, critical, and inclusive society.
From a pedagogical perspective, the teacher is the link between knowledge and the student. Their role includes adapting to new educational demands, promoting active methodologies, and encouraging student participation and empowerment. Furthermore, it is their responsibility to identify the individual needs of each student, offering support, strategies, and guidance to overcome challenges.
Another important aspect of teaching is the continuous assessment of students' skills. The teacher monitors learning progress, adjusts their practice based on results, and promotes meaningful and transformative teaching.
The role of the teacher is equally crucial in individual development. Their presence inspires and motivates students, encouraging the development of critical, creative, and emotional skills. Furthermore, it contributes to the formation of ethical and social values, fostering respect, empathy, self-esteem, and self-confidence.
In conversation with Anastância, a teacher who has been teaching since 2017, she recognizes that the challenges of pedagogy in Mozambique are directly linked to the country's cultural diversity. Anastância states that being a teacher requires a fuel of patience, especially for those teaching the youngest children.
Little Rita, 8 years old and a third-grader, says that it was thanks to her teacher that she learned to read, write, and count. She says that her teacher also taught her to greet people wherever she goes, to respect her elders, and to enjoy studying.
This is the role of educating—and educating well—that we intend to celebrate when the calendar marks October 12th, the date on which the country celebrates Teacher's Day. It should be noted that this anniversary is celebrated at a time when this social class is clamoring for overtime pay, higher salaries, and better classroom conditions.
In Mozambique, Teacher's Day is celebrated on October 12th, in allusion to the creation of the National Teachers' Organization (ONP), founded by the then President of the People's Republic of Mozambique, Samora Moisés Machel, in 1981. The date was established to honor and honor the social and professional mission of Mozambican teachers. The motto associated with the creation of the ONP was: "To make the school a base for the people to seize power."
Although it's an important commemorative date, it's not a national holiday, but rather a school holiday, celebrated by teachers and students across the country.
(By Joana Mawai)
