Teachers provide not only knowledge and qualifications, but also universal ethical principles of social justice, tolerance and peace. They play an important role in the economic, social and cultural development of our society.

On 5th of October 1996, a special inter-governmental conference adopted the UNESCO/ILO recommendation concerning the status of teachers, which gave the latter an instrument defining their reponsibilities and asserting their rights.

The recommendation was intended to raise the status of teachers by setting up standards for their conditions of service, such as working hours, salaries, training and career opportunities, thus enabling them to concentrate on their profession.

As the backbone of the educational sector, teachers assume responsibility for the most challenging assignment in the world. That assignment is to develop the potential of children as they set out on their individual tasks "to learn, to do, to be and to live together" ? the four pillars of education as set up by the commission for a education in the 21st century.

Always in the intellectual vanguard, teachers occupy a central role in advancing and developing ideas; nurturing critical thinking skills and the thirst for knowledge in learners.

After the constitution of the Primary Common Front, a new impetus developed in the teaching profession and this force was a major asset in the fight for the PRB award. The oneness in teachers? unions created a new dynamism which was necessary to fight injustice against teachers. But even if the path is long and tedious, the teachers have the perseverance and stamina to combat.

Today on the occasion of Teachers? Day, we have a special thought for late Mr André Bazerque ? the founder of the GTU. He was among the first to raise his voice against injustice against teachers. André Bazerque was the Dr Curé of the teaching force.

To conclude, the words Frederico Mayor, ex-director of UNESCO and Juan Somavia, ex-director of ILO, are laden with a meaning and message for all stakeholders in education?

?No amount of meaning social change or education reform can truly be brought to fruition without the active participation of teachers as partners?. Therefore teachers should be given due recognition as partners.

Sunilduth MUNGUR