President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday hoped that the teachers will play effective roles in building the future of the nation.
They issued separate messages marking the World Teachers' Day to be celebrated for the first time nationally with the theme 'Teachers for Desired Education: The Global Necessity to Address the Teacher's Shortage', an official release said.
According to the website of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), World Teachers' Day is held annually on October 5 to celebrate all teachers around the globe.
It commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, which sets benchmarks regarding the rights and responsibilities of teachers, and standards for their initial preparation and further education, recruitment, employment, and teaching and learning conditions.
The Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel was adopted in 1997 to complement the 1966 Recommendation by covering teaching personnel in higher education.
The World Teachers' Day has been celebrated since 1994.
In his message, Mohammed Shahabuddin said: "I am happy to know that Bangladesh is celebrating World Teachers' Day declared by UNESCO for the first time nationally."
"On this occasion, we extend our sincere greetings and congratulations to all the dedicated teachers of Bangladesh," the head of the state added.
Mentioning teachers as the great craftsmen of ideal nation formation, he said their devoted souls reflect as beacons of knowledge and wisdom.
The president said teachers are the chief engineers of society's lighthouses alongside making persons good citizens of the country.
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said realizing the importance of the teacher's role in society, the greatest Bangalee of all time and the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took various steps to improve the quality and standard of life of teachers.
Bangabandhu nationalized 1, 65,000 primary teacher jobs and 36,165 primary schools, she said, adding that in the first budget of Bangladesh, the Father of the Nation allocated the highest 21.16 per cent to the education sector in the history of the country, the premier said.
He reconstructed all schools and colleges and constructed new school and college buildings, she added.
Madrasah Education Board was established considering moral education, she mentioned.
The Awami League (AL)-led government has taken and implemented extensive developmental steps in the last 15 years by giving the highest priority to the education sector in the light of the education philosophy of the Father of the Nation, she said.
The education rate has increased from 46.66 per cent in 2007 to 76.8 per cent at present, the premier mentioned.
"We have formulated an up-to-date National Education Policy. The pay grade of primary school teachers has been increased. House rent and medical allowance of private secondary school teachers have been increased," Sheikh Hasina continued.
"We want to build a developed and prosperous 'Smart Bangladesh' by 2041 and for which we need a smart workforce. That is why we have formulated an up-to-date curriculum," she said.
"All our secondary level teachers are being trained to implement this curriculum. I believe that all our teachers will play a leading role in the implementation of this new curriculum," the prime minister said.
She added that a skilled generation will be developed under the direct touch of teachers, who will gift us a 'Smart Bangladesh'.
Both the president and the premier wished World Teachers' Day-2023' a success.
