Minister’s Open Letter to Teachers: “Teaching is Like a Prayer”

As Grade 1 and Grade 7 admissions take place this morning, Education Minister Mahend Gungapersad has penned an open letter to teachers. Drawing on his experience as a former principal, Gungapersad reached out to educators with an inspiring message.

In his letter, he emphasized the profound impact that teaching has on shaping young minds, likening the act of teaching to a prayer—a calling that demands dedication, passion, and a commitment to nurturing the future generation.

«Many will make a semblance of giving the best. The usual late comers, those who come late in class, those who do not plan or prepare their work or those who have nicely written lesson plans but never translate them into proper teaching, those who skip classes to sit and chat in the staffrooms or corridors, those who whimsically complain of bodily pain, bad mood or bad hair day etc are many. Don’t be one of them».

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Open letter to all teachers of the Republic.

Bon courage to all my friends in the teaching profession.

A new academic begins today. A new venture starts. As you prepare and get ready to handle your students as their subject teachers, form teachers, discipline masters or section leaders, get ready to face untold challenges and a lot of professional satisfaction as well when the tasks are accomplished successfully.

Don’t let any personal or emotional bitterness dampen your zeal to reach the professional pinnacle that you once dreamt of while joining the profession.

Give the kids and the profession the best you can no matter what happens.

Good teachers are few and never leave the flock to lesser ones.

Many will make a semblance of giving the best. The usual late comers, those who come late in class, those who do not plan or prepare their work or those who have nicely written lesson plans but never translate them into proper teaching, those who skip classes to sit and chat in the staffrooms or corridors, those who whimsically complain of bodily pain, bad mood or bad hair day etc are many. Don’t be one of them.

Teaching is like a prayer, a devotion, an act of nobility where you feel like a communion with the souls of your kids and you chase away clouds of ignorance, incivility, arrogance and lack of compassion from their existence.

It is a slow and painstaking exercise of building the future of those kids entrusted to you with the hope that you will pave their way towards a better tomorrow.

Look at them sitting in front of you. Their eyes gleaming with charm and love. Look at the naughtiest with love. Look at the weakest with still greater love. Invest yourself fully in making a difference in the lives of those who have nobody but you to hold their abandoned hands- the orphans, the poor, the underprivileged, the victims of domestic abuse and those who have been ostracised or condemned as failures. Feed their souls with love and the brain will accomodate the bookish knowledge.

You can do magic by motivating and inspiring them. You can make them dream big. You can chase their interiorised nightmares.

Don’t allow negativity to grip you. Professional grievances and dissatisfaction should not deter you from being the best teacher for your kids. Be what you do best by giving the best of yourself.

Teach them with passion.

The road to work may be long as the journey to excellence has never been a short cut. Be proud of who you are. Look into the eyes of your kids and get the job satisfaction you have always sought for. Feel great because good teachers teach humanism to man with humility and devotion.

Stay blessed.

Mahend Gungapersad

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The admissions process marks a significant moment in the academic year, and Gungapersad’s heartfelt message underscores the vital role that teachers play in education.

His appeal serves to motivate and reinforce the importance of their work as they welcome a new cohort of students into their classrooms.

Source: l’Express