The past two years have been exceptionally tough on individuals all over the world – especially due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic not only caused extreme mental health fatigue, job losses and severe circumstantial changes, but also cast a shadow on what the future may hold and how the job landscape will evolve to keep up with our new ‘normal’. There is however light at the end of the tunnel after we have come out of our mask-wearing habits and slowly started adjusting to life post COVID-19.
The education sector in South Africa took major strain when school life had to translate seamlessly into a digitised e-learning environment that we were not equipped for. But the good news is that 2023 is the perfect time to start your career as a teacher. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 300 000 American teachers made their swift exit from education between February 2020 and May 2022 – shocking, but expected due to the dramatic shift in teaching. We are seeing similar trends in other countries as well.
The good news is that teachers are slowly, but surely getting back into routine and back into the classroom and 2023 is the upward curve we have been waiting for. As much as the mass exit happened, teachers are so very needed and necessary. And let’s be very honest, teachers actually don’t run the risk of being out of a job. Being a teacher is an absolute calling and is always a valuable asset in helping shape the futures of the youth.
As human beings we always want to make a difference and make an impact in our community. What is more rewarding than being that change in a child’s life, encouraging them and being part of their journey to success? There is no better way to make a difference than leading by example and being the change you want to see. This is also an excellent career for personal development. In-career training will allow you to keep up with teaching trends and learn something new in every aspect of your daily routine and how to evolve as a quality teacher.
Another piece of good news is that Western Cape MEC David Maynier has confirmed that his department is in a position to appoint in excess of a thousand teachers in the province for the 2023 academic year. When it comes to salaries, the department of Education has also pointed out that the current system is designed so that teachers earn progressively more as they move up in their teaching careers. The best part about this, is that age does not play a role! In other sectors, we often hear that there is no room, or growth for increases, bonuses or personal development, but when you are a teacher there are endless opportunities to expand your horizons and make an impact in society. “Education is not the filling of a pot but the lighting of a fire.” – W.B. Yeats
If you want to make a meaningful impact on the lives of children and their parents, whilst working in an increasingly dynamic environment, give teaching as a career a go in 2023.
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