How different countries are planning to celebrate Teacher’s Day in 2021?

 

 

The universal theme of the Grant “Teacher’s Day” changes every year but the main motto behind celebrating this day remains uniform which is Teachers’ Empowerment and Encouragement. Before coronavirus, for the students the day means getting roses, chocolates, gifts including handmade cards to profess their affection for their favorite teachers. Class decoration, planning meal with class peers, cake cutting are some of the ways students used to celebrate the Teacher’s Day in the past. Even after the pandemic hit, many students are willing to honor their teachers on the day and giving efforts to make this day a special one for their beloved teachers.  

 

The Origin of the Teacher’s Day

In 1994, UNESCO established World Teacher's Day to commemorate, honor and encourage teachers' involvement and development and to identify educators' concerns and problems. Since the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation was adopted on that date, October 5th is chosen worldwide to mark Teacher's Day.

 

Why it is Celebrated?

It is a day set aside to honor teachers and to address issues regarding the profession and encourage the best young minds to pursue the noble profession. It's a day to celebrate the efforts of teachers and their contributions to education, including their significance and role in shaping students and society. Students of every country show affection in their special way to pay regards to their teachers who make them learn from counting and alphabets to the knowledge of the universe.

 

When is the World’s Teacher’s Day?

World Teachers’ Day marks on October 5, for many countries like Pakistan, Russia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Mongolia, Myanmar, Netherlands, Nigeria, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, Macedonia, Philippines, Kuwait, Serbia, Romania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Maldives, and Mauritius but the date is not the same for every country. 

Why there are Different Dates of the Teacher’s Day?

Different dates are mainly because of the association of events or activities which differs with country to country.

Like many other countries Pakistan celebrates Teacher’s Day on October 5. Pakistan is a country that respects teachers from the core. Recognizing the importance of teachers, Pakistan stress emphasis on the celebration of the day to bring students and teachers together.

In America, the day is referred to as 'National Teacher Appreciation Day' that continues for a week. Teacher's Day was traditionally observed on March 7 in the United States, but has since been moved to May 1 following legislation passed in the 1984 Representative Assembly. While in Latin America, many countries, such as Mexico and Columbia, celebrate Teachers' Day on May 15.

In China, September 10 is marked as Teacher’s Day. The year, 1985 marked the first Teachers' Day in the country. Teachers have traditionally held a respectable position in China dating back to Confucius' time, but the government enacted a holiday in part to reestablish teaching's prestige after the Cultural Revolution brought devaluation to intellectual pursuits.

Unlike other countries, India celebrates this day on September 5. It is commemorated on the birth anniversary of Dr Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, who was India's first vice president (1952–1962), and a well-respected teacher and philosopher. During his lifetime, he was 16 times nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature and 11 times for the Nobel Peace Prize. While serving as India's second President (1962-1967), Dr Radhakrishnan believed that teachers should be regarded as the best minds in India. When Dr Radhakrishan took the office of the second President of India in 1962, his students sought his permission to celebrate Dr Radhakrishnan has requested that September 5 be observed as Teachers' Day to recognize the contribution teachers make to society. From then on, September 5 was observed as Teacher's Day in schools, colleges, and universities throughout India. 

 

How All Students in the Globe are Celebrating Teacher’s Day after the Pandemic?

With the outbreak of Coronavirus, the affected countries either have temporarily closed academic institutions or shifted towards E-education. The shift from physical learning to E-learning has given a new experience to students. Both students and teachers faced difficulties while getting adapted to the new face of teaching and learning. After 2020, many pedagogues and knowledge seekers have become normalized to distance learning and virtual classroom education. Same the Teacher's Day how it used to be celebrated in countries has changed and students have found and adopted a modern way of celebrating the grant day.

Reports suggest that during COVID-19, students are wishing their teachers with virtual greetings and posting emotional posts on social media platforms. Let’s uncover how students in different countries are celebrating the big day and giving honor to their teachers.

Students in America celebrated National Teacher's Day by sending teachers e-cards and sharing emotional poems and notes on social media platforms. During the week of October 5, Chinese students plan to send video recordings and surprise video calls to their teachers. Russia's students plan to congratulate their teachers by surprise video phone calls on Teacher's Day.  Teacher's Day has been celebrated in India on September 5, 2021. Students in India have done dance performances, songs, speeches, and elaborate shows for their most beloved teachers. As the day marks October 5 in Pakistan, by then schools and colleges will be opened in the country and Pakistani students seem excited and jubilant with their planning of the day celebration. Pakistani students plan to perform different activities at schools and colleges on Teachers' Day to pay tribute to and amuse their teachers, such as reciting poems, mimicking pedagogical techniques, singing, and playing games with teachers and their students together. In celebration of this day, Pakistani students will give their teachers hand-written cards, books, watches, pens, diaries, or flowers. It has been reported in the Netherlands that students are planning to create collages of their class and teachers as their way of expressing their appreciation. 

 

A note as a tribute to my teachers:

You will always be remembered as someone who made each lesson interesting and fun learning through your efforts. You will always be in my heart with respect, affection and gratitude for who you make me today. The lessons you taught me inspired me to pursue my dreams. You're the best teacher anyone could hope for. Thanks for being so understanding and patient with me.