To honor and recognize the invaluable contributions of teachers across the country, the Department of Education (DepEd) will officially kick off this year’s National Teachers’ Month (NTM) celebration on Sept. 5 in Ilocos Sur.
In a memorandum dated Aug. 15, signed by Undersecretary for Operations Revsee Escobedo, the DepEd Office of the Undersecretary for Operations (OUOPS) announced that Region 1 will host the NTM kick-off program.
The NTM 2024 kick-off will be held at the Candon Area in Candon City.
To mark the start of the celebration, DepEd encouraged all schools, school district offices, Schools Division Offices (SDOs), and Regional Offices (ROs) to advocate for NTM and display streamers to promote public awareness of the celebration.
The kick-off will begin a month-long series of activities dedicated to appreciating educators' hard work, dedication, and influence in shaping the nation’s future under the theme “Together4Teachers.”
The DepEd Central Office, through the External Partnerships Service, in partnership with the National Teachers’ Month Coordinating Council (NTMCC), annually conducts activities to celebrate NTM, following Presidential Proclamation No. 242, s. of 2011, “Declaring the period from September 5 to October 5 Every Year as National Teachers’ Month.”
NTM celebration
As part of the NTM celebration, DepEd has directed officials in both public and private elementary and secondary schools to come up with activities that would “honor the teachers and their profession.”
The month-long celebration, DepEd said, also aims to “acknowledge the crucial role teachers play in building the future.”
DepEd emphasized that the NTM celebration aims to “give emphasis to the crucial role, loyal service, and dedicated commitment of teachers in developing globally-minded citizens, nurturing families, strengthening communities, and building the nation.”
Schools were encouraged to celebrate NTM to “revitalize the image of and respect for teaching as a vocation by increasing public awareness of the value of teachers in Philippine society.”
The NTM celebration, DepEd said, also serves as an opportunity to build the image of teaching as an "attractive and fulfilling profession” and to “generate widespread support and assistance for teachers.”
Moreover, DepEd explained that NTM is celebrated to “express gratitude for the positive influences of teachers on Filipino learners.”
During NTM, DepEd also hopes to provide updates on teacher-related programs, projects, and activities aligned with the MATATAG Agenda.
The NTM will culminate on Oct. 5 with the World Teachers’ Day (WTD) celebration as designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).