Mapaballo Borotho
- SADTU marked World Teachers’ Day by celebrating the vital role educators play in shaping South Africa’s future.
- The union highlighted the challenges teachers face, including overcrowded classrooms, heavy workloads, and lack of mental health support.
- It also renewed calls for better working conditions, more funding, and greater community involvement in supporting teachers.
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) is joining the global community in celebrating World Teachers’ Day, a moment dedicated to honouring generations of educators who continue to shape South Africa’s future through their dedication, resilience, and passion for learning.
“From the fireside storytellers who carried wisdom through oral tradition, to the freedom fighters who taught under trees and in secret classrooms, our profession has always been rooted in collective struggle, shared purpose, and ancestral legacy. Today, as the world gathers under the theme ‘Recasting teaching as a collaborative profession’, we affirm that teaching has never been a solitary act. It is a heritage of togetherness, a covenant between teacher and student, community, and society, past and future,” said SADTU spokesperson Nomusa Cembi.
World Teachers’ Day, celebrated annually on 5 October, was established in 1994 to mark the signing of the ILO/UNESCO Recommendations Concerning the Status of Teachers.
It is more than just a celebration; it is a reminder of the vital role teachers play in shaping society, and a call to recognise both their achievements and the challenges they face.
Cembi emphasised that this day is also about shining a light on those challenges, advocating for teachers’ rights, and reaffirming the importance of collaborative support.
“Today’s educators must be supported by systems that value teamwork, shared wisdom, and sustained public investment,” she added.
Despite teaching being one of the most respected professions in Africa, a recent Stellenbosch University study revealed a sobering reality: half of South Africa’s teachers are contemplating leaving the profession due to the unbearable conditions they face on a daily basis.
“They are overwhelmed by too many administrative tasks, overcrowded classrooms, inadequate mental health support, threats of violence from learners, and increasing ill-discipline. We commend them for their resilience and dedication despite these challenges and urge them not to give up,” Cembi said.
SADTU reiterated its commitment to fighting for better working conditions and ensuring that teachers have a strong voice in shaping the future of education.
“We call on government to ensure adequate funding for school infrastructure and to employ more teachers to eliminate overcrowded classrooms. We urge employers to provide psychosocial support to protect teachers’ mental well-being, and call on parents, communities, and learners to play their part in creating safe and conducive environments for teachers to do their work,” the union said.
As the world pauses to celebrate the profession that builds all others, SADTU’s message is clear: teaching is more than a career; it is a legacy of love, struggle, and collective hope for the future.
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