On World Teachers’ Day, Salesians Review Initiatives in Support for Teachers in Africa

The October 5 report indicates that “SAVIO is working together with Salesians in Kenya to support their efforts among the local population and refugees living in the camp. The local Salesian school offers high-quality education, but there is a growing teacher shortage.”

“Many teachers are afraid to move to this remote region,” the Salesian officials say about the refugee camp in the Catholic Diocese of Lodwar, and add “The goal is to build accommodations that will offer teachers a safe environment so they can focus on teaching young students.”

In the report, the Director of Salesian Missions, Fr. Gus Baek, is quoted as saying, “Salesian teachers rise to the challenges they face in some of the poorest countries around the globe. Almost all students in Salesian schools have faced conditions of poverty or are marginalized in some way.”

Dome of the teachers who rise to the challenges, Fr. Baek says, “were previously living and working on the streets, and others have faced war as child soldiers or become refugees in war-torn communities.”

“Salesian teachers who often come from similar backgrounds, meet these challenges head-on, providing education and hope for a brighter future,” the SDB member adds.

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Founded by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1994, the WTD “commemorates the anniversary of the signing of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers.”

WTD 2022 is being marked under the theme, “The transformation of education begins with teachers”, and seeks to “address the commitments and calls for action made at the Transforming Education Summit, held in September 2022.”

During this year’s WTD celebration, UNESCO is set to “hold a series of events showcasing how guaranteeing teachers’ decent working conditions, access to professional development opportunities and a recognized professional status is a first step toward more resilient education systems," SDB officials say in their October 5 report.

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.