Pascalinah Kabi
A LOCAL non-governmental organisation, Freedom Link is set to hold the first Lesotho Teachers Awards to honour outstanding teachers in ten categories.
The awards ceremony is set for the end of May, with categories honouring teachers from kindergarden to high school, include best mathematics and best science teachers.
Freedom Link Project Coordinator Moses Monyamane said it was important to recognise the immense contributions teachers made to mould future leaders despite the harsh working conditions including poor salaries, working in hard to reach areas as well as being forced to play psychologists to learners with social problems.
He said the awards ceremony were endorsed by Lesotho Association of Teachers (LAT), Lesotho Teachers Trade Union (LTTU) and Lesotho Principal Association (LEPSA).
“Freedom Link seeks to immensely contribute in the development of this country through various ways ranging from education and playing a critical role in human trafficking awareness campaigns,” Mr Monyamane said.
In the education sector, Mr Monyamane said the organisation had different programmes like the annual high school career guidance and other extramural activities.
He however said they failed to hold the annual high school career guidance last year, adding, “It is against this failure that we decided to come up with an innovative educational activity this year, hence the Lesotho teachers awards ceremony set for end of May this year”.
Mr Monyamane added: “The awards seek to honour all teachers across the country in all their different levels expect high learning institutions.”
He said that the organisation sought to encourage the public to appreciate that “teaching is the mother of all professions” and therefore teachers must be appreciated for playing a critical role in nurturing every citizen to fulfil their dreams.
“This is a profession where one is forced to play many roles at the same time. Teachers are not only teachers but circumstances force them to play a nurse to children with social difficulties like lack of sanitary towels, food or any other problem,” he said.
Mr Monyamane said despite all this, the teaching service was neglected and society held grudges instead of motivating teachers to become better.
He argued that the public was so used to finding fault in teachers’ work without seriously looking into factors that might be affecting their performance.
“They have many challenges including poor salaries as some of them are paid directly by the schools and they are not on government’s payroll.
“Some of them, especially those working in hard to reach areas, work in unconducive environments yet they are expected to play different roles to all learners.”
Mr Monyamane said it was therefore important to honour teachers and ensure that they felt appreciated.
He said the public would be expected to vote for their favourite teachers from district, regional and national levels through a short message service (SMS).