In every society aspiring for progress and development, the teacher remains a central pillar and an indispensable cornerstone. A teacher is not merely a transmitter of knowledge or a curriculum instructor but rather a maker of generations, a builder of minds, and the primary contributor to shaping values and behaviors. Yet, despite this vital role, teachers sometimes suffer from neglect of their rights and the lack of protections that ensure they perform their duties safely and respectfully. Today, more than ever, it is time to enact comprehensive legislation that protects teachers and enhances their status, befitting the greatness of their mission.
The teacher is the foundational element in the education system and the primary contributor to building enlightened minds. Their role goes beyond conveying information; it includes guidance, motivation, and raising generations with human values and national awareness. When teachers are honored and granted their full rights, their elevated status reflects positively on the quality of education and its outcomes, contributing to societal advancement. Therefore, protecting teachers is not merely a personal demand but a societal necessity to ensure the continuity of effective education.
Unfortunately, in some societies, the teaching profession is looked down upon as if it were a secondary role, less significant than other professions. This limited perspective is one of the most significant barriers preventing societies from advancing and developing. The truth is that any nation that neglects its teachers and undermines their status cannot rise or achieve its developmental goals. On the contrary, developed nations like Finland and Japan have placed teachers at the top of their priorities, resulting in advanced education systems and productive, enlightened societies. Valuing and respecting teachers is the cornerstone upon which any genuine civilizational project is built.
Discussing the protection of teachers is closely tied to their fundamental rights. A teacher's status and respect are inseparable from their legitimate rights. When teachers feel respected and secure in their work environment, they can perform their educational tasks efficiently and effectively. Protecting teachers is not only about safeguarding their physical well-being but also their dignity and the educational mission as a whole. Respecting teachers' rights through recognition, appreciation, financial and moral support, and protection from any form of abuse or harm is essential for ensuring a healthy and fruitful educational environment that leads to building generations capable of leading the future. There can be no discussion of educational or societal advancement without guaranteeing teachers' rights to full protection and respect.
It is noticeable that calls for enacting laws to protect teachers often arise during examination periods when schools witness regrettable incidents of assaults on teachers by students or parents. These incidents, which pain the educational field and undermine the teacher's status, highlight the urgent need for permanent legal protection for teachers. But the question remains: why do we wait for such unfortunate incidents to raise our voices? Why do we need crises to move toward reform? Protecting teachers should be an integral and sustainable part of our educational system, not just a temporary reaction to transient crises.
In recent years, calls for enacting a law to protect teachers from assaults during their duties have intensified. Verbal and physical assaults in some educational institutions underscore the necessity of legislative intervention to safeguard the sanctity of educational institutions and uphold teachers' dignity. A teacher protection law is not just a legal document; it is a declaration that society values their mission and shields them from any harm.
In December 2022, the Kuwaiti Teachers Association submitted a draft law to the National Assembly, containing several key provisions aimed at providing legal protection for teachers. These include harsher penalties for anyone who assaults a teacher during their work, establishing a social fund to compensate teachers for damages or losses resulting from assaults, forming investigation committees in each educational district comprising educational and legal bodies to ensure fairness in complaints against teachers, and requiring educational institutions to inform teachers of their annual performance reports within a specified timeframe to enhance transparency. Additionally, the proposal includes protecting the sanctity of educational institutions from unwarranted interventions, ensuring a safe educational environment.
Teachers in the field expect more than just legal protection; they demand constant respect and tangible support. They call for strengthened legislation that preserves their dignity, protects them from verbal and physical assaults, and ensures a safe and stable educational environment, free from interference and pressures. They also aspire to continuous training and development programs that keep pace with modern advancements and demand incentives that encourage creativity in education.
Today, given the challenges facing teachers, there is no room for delay. It is time to enact a teacher protection law, not merely as a means of safeguarding them but as a step toward building a society that respects and values knowledge. Supporting teachers is supporting the future, and protecting them is protecting future generations. Everyone, whether in the educational field or decision-making positions, must work together to achieve this noble goal. Honoring teachers is, in essence, honoring the entire nation.
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