It's only fair that we honour our teachers for their heroic work

On Thursday the world marked the World Teachers’ Day for the 23rd time since its inception. This day (5th October) gives us the opportunity to honour and celebrate the men and women who have made all of us who we are today, and in the process, immensely shaped the societies we live in. It is a day to reflect on their sweat and untold sacrifices in pushing the agenda of education forward. Some play multiple roles, often sacrificing their own private resources to get many learners past the finishing line.

To all the teachers out there, I salute you! You may not have built private empires, but you have surely built and continue to build societies and nations. And to all of you out there aspiring to join the noble profession, I challenge you to take a moment and examine your consciences – determine if you are ready to be teachers. Because teaching is not a job, it is a calling. It’s a calling to carry the futures of our communities, societies, nations and indeed the very future of humanity on one’s shoulders – often with hefty personal sacrifices.