The daring creatures

Tshwarelo Hosia | Monday September 28, 2026 06:00

They toil beyond normal working hours to give extra ordinary care and love to the most precious God given gifts - our children. The teachers fit the bill of the proverbial sacrificial lambs because of their zeal and willingness to subordinate their personal interests to the well-being and academic prosperity of their clients.

They are daring creatures who are so passionate about the work to an extent where they would not permit even appalling and unappealing classroom teaching and learning conditions to derail their goal of serving students. The ultimate measure of the success of a teacher is not what the teacher gains, but significant gains that accrue to the student.

Most professions measure achievement in terms of what the professionals bring home. Teaching is a unique profession which essentially is about giving and not taking. This is a profession that might be perceived to be punching above its weight because it does not enjoy the clout and prestige that other professions such as the legal profession seem to command.

In the legal fraternity time is money whereas time is not billable in the teaching profession. It is used to push students towards progress proficiency or to get better than yesterday. Unlike lawyers who sell their time, teachers generously donate their time to conduct remedial lessons, upgrade underachieving students, grade students’ work into the night and consult with parents, sometimes outside working hours without demanding or expecting additional remuneration and incentives.

Although considered or perceived a thankless and lesser financially rewarding profession, the teachers have big hearts. Many students can attest to the teachers’ philanthropic deeds. They generously spend their own meagre financial resources on less privileged members of the student community. They care and worry so much about the well-being of children who are not their own. This is a testament to the fact that teachers do not only bring their pedagogical skills to the classrooms but also their hearts. Since teachers have a notorious distinction of risking everything to keep the teaching and learning of their students on track, society should also learn to be sensitive enough to their plight.

A culture of indifference that currently prevails should end. By the very nature of their calling, teachers have no time to take care of themselves.

Someone must take responsibility over the welfare of the teachers. If they can look after the well-being of other people’s children, society should always bear in mind that teachers are human too. They are creatures of flesh and blood worthy of support, love and care.

It should be remembered that every teacher in the classroom is not just an employee but a son of someone or a daughter of someone, a father or mother of someone. They have their own vulnerabilities. Society in general and the ministry responsible for education in particular should be intentional in reciprocating the efforts of teachers.

It is ironic that sometimes the very society that is supposed to respect the teaching profession for what it is worth could champion the narrative of a low and less prestigious job. How can students respect teachers when the society does not hold the teaching profession in high esteem? More should be done to give the teaching profession its well-deserved flowers and accolades.

By way of policy, increased investments should be put into the making of a caring and supportive environment. Society must be intentional about reciprocating the efforts of teachers.

Interventions geared towards raising the status of the teaching profession should include provision of decent housing, adequate teaching and learning inputs, appropriate professional development and access to health and counselling support.

Collectively, we should work to protect the dignity of the profession that takes care of our most precious and cherished diamonds- the young people who are the custodian of our common future. Teachers are doing a lot for our children.

If teachers can father and mother our children in schools who then should father and mother the teachers. Teachers cannot be reduced to orphans in the society they are keeping together. Parents should visit schools not just to confront teachers but give complimentary remarks. Parents should defend and protect the integrity of the teaching profession, not denigrate it.