This article was originally posted by Humana People to People on October 5, 2020.
Humana People to People stands alongside the millions of committed teachers as the world commemorates World Teachers' Day annually on October 5. Education is a powerful tool in the hands of the people striving for a better life, and has a long-term positive impact on development.
In 2020, World Teachers' Day is being celebrated amidst a strenuous COVID-19 pandemic which has affected the education sector globally. In 2020, the world honors and celebrates the remarkable work done by teachers under the theme "Teachers: Leading in Crisis, Reimagining the Future."
World Teachers' Day unveils an opportunity to celebrate the teaching profession worldwide and take stock of achievements made, drawing attention to the voices of teachers, who are at the heart of efforts to attain the global education targets to support billions of learners to access education - a basic human right. The 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 focuses not only on access to education, but inclusive and equitable education to promote life-long learning opportunities for all.
World Teachers' Day 2020 provides a unique opportunity to spotlight the role of teachers in leading during crisis, building resilience, and shaping the future of education.
In 2016, the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) revealed that the world faces an acute shortage of qualified teachers. It estimated that 69 million teachers would need to be recruited to achieve universal primary and secondary education by 2030.
According to the International Task Force for Teachers Education 2030, as of March 25, 2020, 165 countries closed their schools because of the COVID-19 crisis, affecting nearly 1.5 billion students and 63 million school teachers.
Humana People to People Teacher Training Program
For the past 27 years, Humana People to People has trained primary school teachers who are committed to practice their profession in some of the remotest communities in Africa and India. The first Humana People to People Teacher Training College started in Maputo, Mozambique in 1993.
Currently 49 Teacher Training Colleges train 12,500 primary school teachers each year. More than 5,000 primary school teachers graduate every year in Mozambique, Angola, Malawi, India, Guinea Bissau, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zambia. Since inception of the program in 1993 more than 49,000 teachers have been trained.
Humana People to People developed a Teacher Training Program which is driven by the desire to unleash each student/learner's potential in the whole process of capacity building. Humana People to People's pedagogy is characterized by creating a space for students of all ages to be the drivers and navigators of their own training, in a collective setting where studying together and individually go hand in hand. Exploring the reality of life and using what is learned to influence that reality are essential recognizable elements cutting across practical as well as academic studies.
Teachers at Humana People to People Teacher Training Colleges are responsible for the complex and demanding task of delivering good quality teaching. They are trained to manage and convey the curriculum, know each and every student, engage with parents and colleagues, and adapt the teaching to suit students' needs, school conditions, and the community environment. They are trained to be dynamic community members, and are well connected to parents, colleagues, and others in the community. Their training equips them to handle complexities and challenges confronted.
Responding to COVID-19 Impact on Education
COVID-19 has had a staggering impact on education and the teaching sector, leading to the near-total closures of schools, universities, and colleges. Most governments around the world have temporarily closed educational institutions in efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19. As of September 2020, approximately 1.277 billion learners are currently affected due to school closures in response to the pandemic.
The ripple effect of students falls on teachers, with many teachers still affected by the impact of COVID-19 pandemic. With colleges closed following national government imposed emergency lockdowns, education routines were cancelled and curriculum disrupted, heavily affecting the teaching sector. The closures pose unprecedented challenges as they are likely to exacerbate the global learning crisis, adding to global education inequalities.
Teacher leadership in relation to crisis response becomes critical in terms of the contributions teachers make to provide remote learning, support vulnerable populations, re-open schools, and ensure that learning gaps have been mitigated. As witnessed in most of Humana People to People Teacher Training Colleges, adaption and mitigation measures were formulated. Thus, virtual learning options were established to keep the student and teacher in constant communication. For others, pre-arranged homework plans were developed and agreements put in-place for supervision, feedback, and new assignments.
Food for Knowledge (FFK) is an ADPP Mozambique implemented, Planet Aid led program, run in coordination with the Ministry of Education and Human Development (MINEDH) and funded by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program has, for the past four years, been implementing a bilingual education component in early grades of primary schooling in Maputo, Mozambique. To mitigate COVID-19 effects, the FFK program started broadcasting bilingual education classes through community radio stations and television. This new development proves that innovation and readiness to transform is essential when faced by a crisis.
Supporting Teachers in Developing Their Profession
Humana People to People went a step further by creating support mechanisms for its graduated teachers to create linkages, share best practices, and continue exploring new education approaches relevant to increasing demands in the daily work of teachers. The network of graduated teachers is a pillar of strength to scores of practicing teachers who work in remotely located communities.
As such, teachers organize themselves in core groups and meet once a month. They discuss challenges, formulate solutions, and present breakthroughs in classroom teaching and school management initiatives. The continuous training approach of the network of graduated teachers is linked to a Humana People to People Teacher Training College and the national department of further education at district level for building synergy and co-creation.
Leadership qualities acquired by the teachers graduating from Humana People to People Teacher Training Colleges has seen some teachers assume influencing decision making positions at the schools they are assigned. In Malawi, George Mhango and Henry N'gombe are two former graduates who have become deputy headmaster and district sports organizing chairperson, respectively, for the Blantyre rural district.
Their resourcefulness and ability to organize communities to engage in school development as well as dealing with existing social challenges hampering community development are commendable.
A Call to Increase Global Education Funding
Investing in education is investing in people, in the community and in the nation. It is our collective effort therefore to ensure innovative ways to acquire and sustain education funding in order to achieve equitable and quality education. Increasing the number of qualified and motivated teachers, to deal with the global learning crisis can last for several generations, and make a tangible difference, especially for the disadvantaged.