President Wavel Ramkalawan’s message on the occasion of Teachers’ Day |05 October 2021
President Ramkalawan
‘We are the products of the efforts of our teachers’
“We, the citizens of Seychelles who are leading and serving our country in various capacities in the government, private sector, NGOs, international organisations, to name just a few, are the products of the efforts of our teachers.”
President Wavel Ramkalawan said this in his message on the occasion of Teachers’ Day being celebrated today.
The full text of President Ramkalawan’s message reads:
“Today, October 5, Seychelles joins the rest of the world to pay tribute to teachers for their relentless devotion, amid the so many challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This year in the Seychelles, we are celebrating the 31st Anniversary of Teachers’ day. For the past three decades, as a small island developing nation, a lot has been done to uphold the status of this noble profession. We recognise that teachers are the cornerstones of the education system and the foundation for the future of our nation.
“The chosen theme to commemorate this year’s Teachers’ Day in Seychelles ‘Honouring the past, redefining the future’, brings forth the idea of reforming the sector to bring about excellence in education. We need to be mindful, however, that a fine balance is maintained between tradition and routines on the one hand and innovation and change on the other.
“For the past year, the whole world has had to face a pandemic which has posed several threats to education globally. Nonetheless, it has confirmed the crucial role and the resilience of teachers in maintaining learning continuity through innovative ways.
“Unesco has this year chosen the theme ‘Teachers at the heart of education recovery’. This theme is indeed significant as we have witnessed how teachers have been at the heart of educational responses, as depicted in the manner they adapted their practices to cater for the needs of all their learners. We salute our teachers for providing psychosocial support to their learners and fellow teachers, while taking care of their own socio-emotional wellbeing and that of their family. This has enhanced a sense of community within the teaching profession.
“Today, on World Teachers’ Day, we celebrate teachers and educators in Seychelles and around the world for their invaluable contribution to the socio-economic development of our nation and the role they play in shaping our children’s future. I appeal to all teachers, school leaders and those working close to learners, to draw inspiration from their work and discharge their duties with a renewed sense of dedication and diligence. It is hoped that their work inspire the younger generation to choose teaching as a career.
“We, the citizens of Seychelles who are leading and serving our country in various capacities in the government, private sector, NGOs, international organisations, to name just a few, are the products of the efforts of our teachers. On this great occasion, I call upon every member of our society to join me in saying thank you to our teachers as a way of conveying our respect, affection and gratitude to them. We are truly proud of you.
“I wish all teachers in Seychelles a Happy Teachers’ Day 2021!”
Wavel Ramkalawan
President of the Republic of Seychelles