Hundreds of teachers gathered yesterday at Queen Salote Memorial Hall to celebrate World Teachers’ Day (WTD), despite pouring rain. Although the official date for WTD is October 5, the national celebration took place yesterday.
The event featured a march down Taufa’ahau Road to the hall and a commemorative service, with Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku as the guest of honour.
This year’s theme, “Valuing Teachers’ Voices: Towards a New Social Contract for Education,” highlights the important role of educators in shaping future generations and emphasized the need for their voices to be included in educational policies.
In his keynote address, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude for the hard work and dedication of teachers. He urged them to prepare for the evolving challenges in delivering quality education. “As we honour teachers today under the theme ‘Valuing Teachers’ Voices,’ we are reminded of the need for a fundamental shift in our educational experience,” he said.
The Prime Minister reflected on the importance of personalizing education to meet diverse student needs. “We must recognize that every student is unique, with individual strengths, interests, and learning styles,” he said.
The government has also pledged to strengthen support for teachers and to ensure that their insights shape future educational reforms.