Words Rhymes & Rhythm wishes to join the rest of the world in celebrating our teachers on the occasion of the WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY 2016 ― October 5 by giving a N10,000 award to a Nigerian teacher.
It is rather unfortunate that this day, dedicated to members of one of the most important professional groups in any human society, is being marked in a somewhat muted manner, especially in Nigeria. This is a direct mirror of the way we view teachers and the profession that makes other profession.
Like Solomon Ortiz rightly said, “Education is the key to success in life, and teachers make a lasting impact in the lives of their students.” This should mean that teachers should be venerated and rewarded accordingly.
Unfortunately, in Nigeria, teachers are seen by many as second-class citizens with poor remuneration and low social respect. Many people believe that only people who cannot find employment elsewhere “settle for” the low-paying teaching profession. This should not be the case.
At Words Rhymes & Rhythm, we strongly believe, in keeping with Albert Einstein’s position “it is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge”, that teachers should be greatly appreciated.
WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY 2016: NOMINATE A NIGERIAN TEACHER FOR WRR’S N10,000 AWARD
So, while we hope for a future where Nigerian teachers will be given the same professional respect, especially in terms of remuneration and working conditions, as their counterparts in assumed ‘superior professions’, WRR will like to institute a token award of N10,000 to celebrate a Nigerian teacher. This amount will be increased annually.
We therefore call on Nigerians to nominate a teacher they believe is worthy of the award. For this inaugural edition, the criteria are:
Nominated teacher must be working with students aged 16 or below
Nominated teacher must be teaching English, Literature or the creative arts
Nominated teacher must be teaching in a Nigerian school
Nominations are encouraged for teachers working in rural communities/disadvantaged students
To nominate simply send an email stating the teacher’s name, school and location to INFO@WRR.NG. Add a 20 word statement justifying the nomination
Nominations will be received until Friday October 7 and the awarded teacher will be announced on Monday October 10.
JENNIFER CHINENYE EMELIFE
Nominations will be reviewed by Nigerian writer, teacher and unrepentant lover of books JENNIFER CHINENYE EMELIFE.
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WORDS RHYMES & RHYTHM LTD is a publishing and social reorientation poetry organization which owns WRRPOETRY, Nigeria’s largest poetry sharing platform; WRR COLLEGE OF POETRY, Nigeria’s only online poetry college, and AUTHORPEDIA, Nigeria’s only free author resource website. WRR is actively involved in promoting Nigerian writing and supporting Nigerian writers.
