SPEECH BY THE HON. MINISTER FOR YOUTH AND SPORTS, LAISENIA TUITUBOU AT THE MAHATMA GANDHI MEMORIAL PRIMARY SCHOOL SPORTS FUN DAY ON WEDNESDAY 10TH AUGUST, 2016 AT 9.00AM
The Head Teacher of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Primary School
Representatives of the Gujarat Education Society of Fiji
Teachers, parents, friends and students
Good morning and a big bula vinaka to you all.
Today is a day of fun and leisure set aside by your school leaders to put back that spirit of gleeful sports participation into a usually jam packed learning environment. Today is your Sports Fun Day; key words there being “Sports” and “Fun”. All of you are gathered here today to take time off from your usual timetable and to kick back, relax and have fun.
But before we dwell into today’s planned fun activities as it is all about sports, please allow me to elaborate on the importance of education. Though it may sound like a broken record, we are all too familiar with how a good education can lead to a prosperous life. Therefore emphasizing the importance of education in one’s life must not lie only on the shoulders of our leaders but must be embraced by all as it is our duty to reiterate this most important aspect of our lives as individuals. Learning is a lifelong process and as such we all have a role to play in supporting the educational aspirations of any individual.
To our teachers, as educators, you need to provide an environment conducive to learning while also keeping in mind that through fun and enjoyment, students are more likely to grasp concepts you are trying to teach them.
By definition, a conducive learning environment is a platform devoid of both physical intimidation and emotional frustration, which allows for a free exchange of ideas.
The key exponents of the learning process are teachers and learners, as such their freedom of interaction, safety and respect should be equally guaranteed within the physical and sensitive environment they find themselves in.
Emotions play a crucial role in both teaching and learning and therefore should be harnessed and embraced.
Mutual respect is a crucial ingredient in the learning process. You may all be too familiar with this next scenario; A teacher who feels disrespected easily gets frustrated and is likely to deliver miserably; similarly a disrespected pupil will disengage from the learning process altogether. Students should feel relaxed, respected, trusted, accepted and safe when their teacher is around.
The teacher, therefore, should always be unintimidating, friendly, respectful, tolerant and accommodating for students to warm up to them.
A teacher should be respected and not feared. Younger students, especially the lower classes, may tend to withdraw into their shells if the teacher shows aspects of intimidation or may come across as belittling.
Under no circumstances should the teacher use derogatory remarks even to those physically or intellectually challenged, neither should he/she allow such remarks in the classroom.
Learning is an interaction of ideas whose effectiveness lies in the consideration of both the teacher and the pupil as they all contribute to the outcome. The teacher may be the source of knowledge but is certainly not the only one, as students also have access to other sources of information like textbooks, journals and the internet.
In today’s modernized world the teacher should be the custodian of the knowledge that their students acquire as raw data elsewhere, guide them in the gaining of such information and perfect it, so that it becomes effective as academic knowledge.
What is of interest to pupils is what appeals to them more, so they should be given a reason to listen, otherwise their attention will be drawn elsewhere.
As educators, you are aware that active learning thrives on questions because questions are more important than answers; as Albert Einstein put it and I quote: “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing,” unquote. Thus the best strategy in the acquisition of knowledge is to keep asking questions. The competent teacher, therefore, should not force students to ask questions, but should encourage them to freely ask them according to their understanding of the concepts taught.
We should also start to paint the picture of the classroom functioning as a community, where everyone plays a part, with the teacher being the head; in control and commands respect. Free interaction should be the hallmark, so that every member is given a chance to air his or her ideas. Regardless of their different backgrounds, every student is equal, as should be reflected through group work and emphasised through-out the learning process. All contributions should be respected to encourage participation and to foster a sense of belonging.
Use of the same learning models time and again, reduces the classroom to a cell of dullness and boredom. Suspense and surprise are key elements in the attention span of the human mind; hence, every lesson should be a new experience. I put this to you not in objection of the usual practice, far from it, but I do so to broaden your horizons and to actively engage your students in the learning experience.
Before I conclude, I wish to take this opportunity to thank each one of you, especially our teachers for being true to your noble profession. Parents entrust their children to your care and you have shouldered this responsibility with composure and humility and for that I am confident you have not only my gratitude but of all parents.
On that note, I wish you each enjoy your Sports Fun Day today and to the students, remember to reflect the same level of spirited enthusiasm and vigour you will show in today’s Sports Day in your studies.
Thank you, vinaka vakalevu, dhanyevaad and shukriah!!!