Teacher Appreciation Blog

The beauty of teaching is celebrated all over the globe, in all kind of regions and in all type of languages. Afghanistan is one of those places.

Every year, on May 24^th, even if schools are on leave, students and teachers all rush in to celebrate. People bring food, cookies and, most of all, presents. Special presentations and programs are also scheduled to please educators, teachers and families.

Teacher’s day is an occasion to draw the attention of the commitment teachers have always shown by trying providing quality education for all in such a context of doubt and insecurity. With about 4 million students in the country, Afghan teachers are now the symbol of a better future for all a new generation that has been growing in fear since the 1970s.

However, there are still significant obstacles to education in Afghanistan. For instance, Afghan teachers get the lowest salary in the world, accounting only about 6 % of domestic budget (100 USD). Furthermore, the government fails to pay most of them when times are unsteady, which usually happens in such a sensitive zone.

Given the national geography, many people face difficulties getting educated. Distance education would be possible thanks to the implementation of radio and TV programs in the most remote areas. Indeed, the increasing importance of Information and Communication technologies requires a big investment that the government can not afford at this moment.

Thanks to the famous UN agency of the UNESCO, things have changed a lot during the last few years. A series of measures have been implemented during the last few years to improve teaching conditions all over the country.

UNESCO began by supporting the ministries in designing and implementing viable educational policies in order to upgrade training, recruitment and working conditions.

At the end of the day, Teacher’s day in conflicted countries is becoming a symbol of all the values teaching is about, reminding us that school makes us what we are. Now we ought to hope that the Afghan public administration follows this beautiful example of solidarity and perseverance to give access to education to all the Afghan children and finally maintain peace.