This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the 1997 UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel

PRETORIA, South Africa, October 5, 2017/APO/ -- 

President Jacob Zuma has today, 05 October 2017, expressed his full support and good wishes to all teachers in the country and the world celebrate the annual World Teachers Day today.

This year’s celebration, held under the theme “Teaching in Freedom, Empowering Teachers”, echoes the 2015 theme that followed the adoption of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) in September 2015, when teacher empowerment was reaffirmed as a top priority in all education and development strategies of the United Nations.

We join the world today on this special World Teachers Day, under the auspices of the United Nations

Held annually on 5 October since 1994, the day commemorates the anniversary of the signing of the 1966 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers.

This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the 1997 UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel, focussing on teaching personnel at institutions of higher education.

“We join the world today on this special World Teachers Day, under the auspices of the United Nations, where as a country, we honour and value our teacher’s immense contribution and dedication to deliver quality education and shaping our future as a nation. Let’s continue to support, empower and provide necessary tools to our teachers in order for them to thrive in their profession. On behalf of government, we wish all our teachers a happy and productive World Teacher’s Day,” said President Zuma.

Distributed by APO on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Presidency.