KATHMANDU: Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Giriraj Mani Pokharel has called on teachers and the stakeholders to give first priority to the students’ continued learning.

Addressing the South Asia level panel discussion on behalf of Nepal in the program organized on a global level on the occasion of the World Teachers’ Day-2020, he said teachers have an important role in knowledge creation and its handover. He urged the teaching fraternity to prove themselves best every time to produce excellent results since qualified teachers are required for quality education.

The Education Minister said students’ learning has been continued through alternative system after the coronavirus pandemic and the teachers have also played a significant role in this.

The World Teachers’ Day is celebrated on October 5 every year to commemorate and review the UN’s recommendations in 1994 on the duty, responsibility and rights of the teaching profession and professionals.

This year, discussions were organized in accordance with the time and turn of each country in the form of 24-hour digital rally to mark the Day. General Secretary of SAARC Teachers Federation, Laxman Sharma gave a speech on the challenges seen in schools and education in Nepal and South Asia during the coronavirus pandemic.

Various papers were presented on the impact in the education sector and the teacher community due to COVID-19.

Held annually on 5 October since 1994, World Teachers’ Day commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers.

This Recommendation sets benchmarks regarding the rights and responsibilities of teachers and standards for their initial preparation and further education, recruitment, employment, and teaching and learning conditions.

The Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel was adopted in 1997 to complement the 1966 Recommendation by covering teaching and research personnel in higher education.

With the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goal 4 on education, and the dedicated target (SDG 4.c) recognizing teachers as key to the achievement of the Education 2030 agenda, WTD has become the occasion to mark progress and reflect on ways to counter the remaining challenges for the promotion of the teaching profession.

World Teachers’ Day is co-convened in partnership with UNICEF, the International Labour Organization and Education International.