Third win for Uganda National Teachers’ Union
Uganda National Teachers’ Union Scores a Norm Goble Award Hattrick
Ottawa – And then, there were three. For the third consecutive year, the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) receives another Norm Goble World Teachers’ Day Award. This incredible feat stems from their winning proposal to highlight teachers and the teaching profession through a positive COVID lens.
Created in 2014, the award is offered annually to encourage the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE)’s overseas partners to carry out activities on World Teachers’ Day (WTD). UNATU receives $1,000 CAD to implement its proposed activities. One of the award criteria is the relevancy to the CTF/FCE 2021 WTD theme: Celebrating teachers – We see you, value you, and applaud you.
The UNATU’s engaging proposal “Teachers Matter” highlights what the global pandemic has taught us about education and teachers as part of a broader “Education Still Matters” campaign. WTD activities will involve messages shared through social media, radio, and TV, as well as a teacher appreciation week, to encourage the public to recognize teachers and the work they do. Post WTD activities include the creation of a compendium of teacher and student experiences during COVID, media campaigns, community mobilization drives, and the building of strategic partnerships within the community.
“On behalf of the Uganda National Teachers’ Union, I want to extend my deepest appreciation and gratitude to the CTF/FCE. We are honoured that we were selected as the 2021 award winner and cannot believe our luck.,” said Filbert Baguma, General Secretary of the UNATU. “It is a privilege to work alongside CTF/FCE international partner organizations to help shine the light on the teaching profession.”
The Norm Goble WTD Award is attributed to Dr. Norman Goble, who served as the CTF/FCE Secretary General from 1970-1982, and the World Confederation of Organizations of the Teaching Profession Secretary General from 1982-1988. Dr. Goble’s contributions to education in Canada and throughout the developing world are credited for his work in the initiation of WTD.
Working with Education International (EI), the CTF/FCE lobbied for the creation of WTD. In 1994, UNESCO inaugurated WTD to focus attention on the contributions and achievements of teachers, and to highlight teachers’ concerns and priorities regarding education. October 5 was selected as the date to internationally celebrate teachers because on the same day in 1966, a special intergovernmental conference adopted the UNESCO recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. In adopting this recommendation, governments unanimously recognized the importance for society to have competent, qualified, and motivated teachers.
Honourable mentions
A total of eight CTF/FCE partner organizations sent in their applications. Two honourable mentions prizes of $500 CAD each were offered to the Ghana National Association of Teachers and the Grenada Union of Teachers to conduct their activities to mark World Teachers’ Day.
The Canadian Teachers’ Federation
Founded in 1920, the Canadian Teachers’ Federation is the national voice for the teaching profession. As the national alliance of provincial and territorial teacher organizations, the CTF/FCE represents over 300,000 elementary and secondary school teachers across Canada.
Media contact
Andrew King,
Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE)
Contact
Mobile: 819-213-7847
