As the world celebrates World Teachers’ Day 2025, the spotlight once again turns to the unsung heroes who shape every profession teachers. This year’s theme, announced by UNESCO, “Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession”, and Education International’s complementary campaign, “Together for Teachers, Together for Tomorrow”, both emphasize the need to create supportive ecosystems where teachers can thrive.
In line with this global reflection, Margaret Mawusi More (MPhil, PGDE), a Childhood & Family Science Expert and Educationist has made a passionate call to action: “Stop associating teaching with poverty!”
In an exclusive interview with Prismore Writes Global, Miss. More expressed deep concern over the societal attitudes that diminish the dignity of teaching.
“We must make the teaching profession attractive to our learners,” she urged. “Be a good example to them in all spheres. Our teachers used to tell us to learn hard so that we become wealthy adults and give them lifts when we meet them in town. No! No! No! That was wrong programming. Tell your learners that they should learn hard so that you honk at each other as a form of greeting when you meet in town.”
Her message is simple but powerful — teachers must not be portrayed as symbols of struggle, but as pillars of national growth.
Teachers: The Architects of Every Profession
Every leader, innovator, and professional once sat before a teacher. Teachers plant the seeds of knowledge, nurture character, and inspire confidence. They are the foundation of every nation’s human capital. Without them, no profession can exist, not medicine, law, engineering, or governance.
Yet in Ghana and many parts of the world, teachers are undervalued and underpaid despite their unmatched contribution to society. This has led to a dangerous narrative that associates teaching with poverty, a perception that must urgently change.
Learning from Nations that Value Their Teachers
In Finland, teaching is one of the most respected and well-paid professions. Teachers there undergo rigorous training, enjoy autonomy in the classroom, and are supported with continuous professional development. The result? One of the most successful education systems in the world.
In Singapore, the government recognizes teachers as nation builders. They receive competitive salaries, mentorship opportunities, and housing benefits. Education is treated as a national investment, not an expense.
Similarly, South Korea honors its teachers with high social prestige and attractive compensation packages. Teachers are trusted, empowered, and celebrated.
These examples prove that when nations prioritize teachers, they prosper economically, intellectually, and morally.
A Call to the Ghanaian Government
It is time for Ghana to reimagine the teaching profession. The government must improve teacher remuneration, strengthen training programs, and ensure that schools are adequately resourced. Teachers deserve modern tools, safe classrooms, and professional recognition equal to other fields.
Moreover, the social narrative must shift, teaching should no longer be viewed as a low-income fallback job, but as a noble, respected, and well-rewarded career path.
As Margaret Mawusi More emphasized, “Let us raise a new generation that sees teaching as a profession of pride and progress not poverty.”
In the nut shell, Teachers are the heart of civilization, shaping minds, nurturing futures, and transforming societies. Their impact transcends the classroom; it echoes through generations.
As we celebrate World Teachers’ Day 2025, let Ghana and the world unite under one call:
Stop associating teaching with poverty!
Empower teachers, uplift education, and secure the future.
also, teachers shouldn’t tell students they can’t make it in life but rather be a guide to their students. everyone’s got different talents and some are not “classroom-built”.
ReplyDeletewith this i guess there would be less unemployment 🤷🏽♂️