Mass celebrates start of Teachers’ Week |04 October 2021

Bishop Harel celebrating mass yesterday (Photo: Thomas Meriton)

The Ministry of Education kicked off this year’s Teachers’ Week with a teacher’s day mass held at the St John Bosco church in Pointe Larue yesterday morning.

Presided by Bishop Alain Harel, the mass had been organised and animated by teachers from the eastern region of Mahé and was attended by a number of past and former educators.

The mass was also attended by First Lady Linda Ramkalawan; Minister for Education Dr Justin Valentin; Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Sylvestre Radegonde; Minister for Employment and Social Affairs Patricia Francourt; Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment Flavien Joubert; Minister for Investment, Entrepreneurship and Industry Devika Vidot and former Minister for Education Jeanne Siméon, and some members of the National Assembly.

In his sermon, Bishop Harel observed that Jesus was a perfect example of a teacher who not only taught but lived and practiced what he taught.

“They called him rabbi which is an Hebrew word for professor, master and what an educator he was[...]the aim of an educator is to help children grow, help the youths in every aspects of their lives,” said Bishop Harel.

He noted that the profession of teaching is a noble and beautiful one because teachers have been given the mission to shape the minds and lives of the young.

Bishop Harel commended initiatives to provide breakfast for less fortunate children since he stressed that children cannot go to school on an empty stomach.

He also noted that some parishioners in different churches are also helping children with their homework, as well as accompany families ‘pti lepa par pti lepa’ as they teach their youngsters.

Joanne Rath, a teacher at the Pointe Larue secondary school, read out a testimonial and motivational poem for other teachers.

She was followed by another educator, Jeffrey Nanty, who will celebrate 25 years as a teacher in 17 days. Mr Nanty said that the 25 years proved to be challenging especially as a male teacher as there are not a lot of male teachers in schools.

“It seems that the problem of a lack of men has been an issue for a while now and I hope the minister looks into this situation to bring about more men in the education sector,” said Mr Nanty.

Minister Valentin officially launched the Teachers’ Week at the end of the church service.

He called for parents to send an SMS or message to their children’s teachers as a motivational boost.

Teachers’ Week is packed full of events such as a blood drive, teachers’ awards ceremony, a mini conference and will end on October 8 with a teachers’ day commemorations at different schools.

Meanwhile, principal secretary for education services Dr Odile de Commarmond noted that the second part of the third trimester, which starts today, will carry on with the same modality as have been observed during this last trimester, where children come to school in groups.

Elsie Pointe