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| JOINT
MESSAGE ON THE OCCASION OF WORLD TEACHERS' DAY |
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(5
OCTOBER 2000)
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WORLD
TEACHERS' DAY 2000 : EXPANDING HORIZONS
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| Paris,
2 October 2000 - On the occasion of World Teachers' Day,
celebrated October 5, UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura;
International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General Juan
Somavía; United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator
Mark Malloch Brown; and UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy
launched a joint message entitled World Teachers' Day 2000:
Expanding Horizons. |
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On World Teachers' Day 2000, we wish to pay homage to the role
of teachers in expanding the learner's horizons and also to
put the spotlight on the expanding horizons for teachers in
the new knowledge society of the 21st century. |
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Before undertaking any type of learning, no matter how early
or late in life, the student almost always has an idea of
where the process will lead. But it is only after a person's
education is underway that new vistas of activity, ability
and understanding start coming into view. Time and time again,
this expanding horizon is thanks to an experienced teacher.
Most people have areas of interest or skills that became central
to their lives after a teacher introduced them to a subject
they may otherwise never have encountered.
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Today's rapidly changing world requires people to draw increasingly
upon their education, not only in terms of their level of knowledge,
but also in terms of the skills that allow them to adapt to
change. This redefines education to mean learning throughout
life rather than a single experience in school. Accordingly,
lifelong learning must be available to all. Around the world,
teachers are already helping students to acquire the education
and training for shaping and managing their lives, to learn
how to become successful life-long learners, always able to
broaden their horizons. |
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A changing world environment that puts new emphasis on knowledge
and learning skills also expands the horizons of the teaching
profession. Information and communications technologies have
made information more easily available. Teachers are exploring
the best pedagogic use of these new tools, more learner-centred
teaching practices, and new forms of open and distance learning.
Indeed the transmission of information alone cannot lead to
a knowledge society without the involvement of devoted teachers,
adopting more than ever new methods to bring the learning process
beyond rote memorization. This task enhances teacher professionalism,
and depends on teachers themselves as lifelong learners, expanding
their own learning horizons. |
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At the same time, teachers are educating a diversifying range
of learners from increasingly varied backgrounds, of different
ages and with more varied needs - individual, workplace, informal
and adult. Teachers can act as catalysts for change by encouraging
families and communities to ensure access to quality education,
particularly for girls. The teaching and learning horizon is
also expanding significantly in the area of values education
- such as environmental education, human rights and peace education,
health education - which contributes to a broader notion of
the fundamental aims of education. |
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Today we pay homage to the professional commitment of teachers
who, despite sometimes poor working conditions, limited resources
and inadequate remuneration, help learners and learning move
forward. To continue to innovate in favour of expanding horizons,
teachers need the active support of the communities and societies
that they serve, and they need to be fully involved in educational
reform decisions. In this way they can help to ensure rights-based,
child-friendly learning environments, which are inclusive of
children, effective with children, healthy and protective of
children, and gender-sensitive. |
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On the occasion of World Teachers' Day, we appeal to the world
community, to governments, parliamentarians, parents, community
leaders, the media, non-governmental organizations, civil society
institutions, the private sector, educational institutions,
teachers' unions and associations to renew their commitment
of support to teachers. We call for the implementation of the
guidelines on good practices contained in the ILO-UNESCO Recommendation
concerning the Status of Teachers and in the UNESCO Recommendation
concerning the Status of Higher Education Teaching Personnel.
We also ask governments to find specific ways of honouring the
pledge made at the World Education Forum held in Dakar, Senegal,
in April, 2000 and endorsed in the Dakar Framework for Action
to enhance the status, morale and professionalism of teachers.
This is the best way of showing support for teachers, who are
and will remain in this new century the core of the education
system. |
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Koïchiro
Matsuura: Director-General
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO)
Juan
Somavia : Director-General International Labour Office (ILO)
Mark
Malloch Brown : Administrator United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) Programme
Carol
Bellamy : Executive-Director United Nations Children's Fund(UNICEF)
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=========
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For
more information:
contact
the World Education Forum media co-ordination office
at tel (221) 826 80 52 or (221) 641 8281
or email a.muller@unesco.org
WEBSITE: www.education.unesco.org/efa
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