By Amadou Manjang
Educators across The Gambia joined the rest of the world on Saturday, October 5, to celebrate World Teachers’ Day, reflecting on their profession’s triumphs and challenges while calling for stronger support to advance education.
This year’s theme, “Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession,” underscored the importance of partnership and collective effort in transforming education.
Mr. Ebrima Bah, a senior school teacher, stressed the need to consistently recognize and celebrate teachers’ contributions.
“This is a noble profession that deserves all the support and recognition it gets,” he said.
Highlighting the daily struggles of teachers, Mr. Alagie Saidykan, also a senior secondary school teacher, lamented the lack of motivation among teachers.
“Besides, there are lots of challenges, including transportation issues,” he noted.
For Mr. Saine, another secondary school teacher, the future of education depends on innovation.
“The integration of technology in the learning system will aid teachers in significant ways,” he explained, adding that teachers remain the foundation of any nation.
“They change lives, inspire dreams, and push the limits of human potential,” he emphasized.
At the primary level, Sana Touray stressed the theme’s relevance, calling for collaboration among all education stakeholders.
“Teaching as a collaborative profession needs good working relationships with all stakeholders, including parents,” he said.
“This is the only way to support teachers and the education system.”
Many teachers marked the day with similar reflections, celebrating their role as nation-builders while urging greater recognition and support for their work.
