Content:

1.    Introduction.

2.    The quality of education.

3.    Cleanliness of school environment

4.    Culture of respecting the value of time

5.    Lesson preparation

6.     Promoting strong home-school communication and dialogue

7.    Conclusion 

8.    References

1. Introduction

We are facing unprecedented social, economic, and environmental challenges driven by the acceleration of globalization processes with a faster rate of technological developments.

In the 21st-century education challenges and opportunities, teachers are at the forefront of change and innovation. Their multifaceted role as teachers extends far beyond traditional classroom instruction, encompassing diverse responsibilities that require adaptability, creativity, and a commitment to fostering student skills and knowledge for succeeding in a modern world.

Research has proven that early childhood education is the most important phase to initiate a healthy development. Exceptional teachers have a lasting impact on students and society. They cultivate skills and qualities needed for success in an ever-changing world: critical thinking, adaptability, resilience, and a passion for discovery. Teachers play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of innovators, problem solvers, and global citizens.^[1]

Teachers are undoubtedly among the most significant contributors to national development in any country. The future is uncertain and we cannot predict it; but we need to be open and ready for it. Schools can prepare students for jobs that have not yet been created, for technologies that have not yet been invented, to solve problems that have not yet been anticipated.^[2] How to educate children? What is the starting point? What curriculum to be used?

Teachers as facilitators, guides, and co-learners should be more involved in counselling students, mentoring students, and teaching them how to use and apply knowledge in their lives. Students should be helped to develop curiosity, imagination, resilience and self-regulation; they will need to respect and appreciate the ideas, perspectives and values of others; and they will need to cope with failure and rejection, and to move forward in the face of adversity. Parents and stakeholders should continue to invest and reinvest in schools because that’s an investment that never declines in value.

2. The quality of education

Attendance at school does not necessarily mean that pupils are learning or teaching.

The quality of education is a combination of many aspects focused on learners, learning environments, content, process and outcomes. Quality education is a crucial factor in combating poverty and inequality in society. Without education, no social, health, economic and political progress is possible. Investing in education is therefore essential for the future of the world. In case of different African countries education can provides a sense of stability and hope for the future and helps to heal the trauma of pandemic, natural disaster and conflict. Quality Education is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nations in 2015.The Quality Education SDG 4 aims to ensure that all children, youth, and adults have access to quality education and relevant learning opportunities that will equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in today’s rapidly changing world. Quality education can improve treatment uptake which prevents preventable diseases. A child under the age of five is twice as likely to live a healthy life style if her mother can read and write (UN, 2011). What determines the quality of education is a continuous process improvement (CPI) which is the practice of continually tracking process performance to find inefficiencies and eradicate them. Integrating continuous improvement into your everyday work life involves adopting tools and practices that help you think from an improvement mindset. This facilitate constant innovation and adaptation.

3. Cleanliness of school environment

From elementary schools to universities there is a need of making effort in cleanliness (washrooms, class rooms, school compound). The school should help the student to meet with self, others, and the environment. Ensuring a clean school isn’t just an ethical obligation; it also plays a significant role in student performance.  A clean environment, actively promotes a positive and healthy atmosphere for students. When classrooms, corridors, and common areas are kept tidy and well-maintained, it fosters a sense of pride and ownership among students. Further a clean environment is visually appealing and stimulates a sense of calm and focus, allowing students to concentrate better on their studies. Clean and healthy environment in schools reduces absenteeism. Clean and organized classroom promotes a sense of calmness and organization, it allowing students to focus better and concentrate on their tasks, opens healthy atmosphere, a space for creativity, and relieve stress for both teachers and students. Teachers should create environments that match the age and level of the children they teach. When children feel comfortable, and secure in their physical environments, they explore materials that help them generate new ideas that deepen their understanding of their surroundings.

Healthy habits and maintaining a clean school environment goes hand in hand with teachings. By educating students about personal hygiene practices, such as regular hand washing, covering their mouths when coughing or sneezing, and proper waste disposal, schools help reduce the spread of germs and prevent illnesses.

Clean and well-maintained sanitary facilities are crucial for students’ health and comfort. School washrooms should be regularly cleaned and stocked with soap and paper towels. Accessible and hygienic facilities promote good sanitation practices, reduce the risk of infections, and enhance the overall well-being of students.

Encouraging waste reduction and implementing recycling initiatives in schools teach students about environmental responsibility. By promoting recycling bins, composting programs, and reducing single-use plastics, schools contribute to creating a sustainable future. Students learn about the importance of minimizing waste, conserving resources, and protecting the environment for generations to come. By witnessing the efforts made by the school to maintain cleanliness and promote sustainable practices, students are inspired to become responsible stewards of the environment. A clean school environment is crucial for the mental well-being of students. When students are surrounded by cleanliness and order, it promotes a positive mindset, cognitive abilities, and reduces stress levels.[3]

4. Culture of respecting the value of time

Being punctual is a foundational aspects of professionalism it is a key aspect of work ethic.  Punctuality is more than just arriving on time; it is a demonstration of respect and integrity. It shows others including parents, students, and colleagues that we value and honor their time commitments. By respecting times and deadlines, we establish a culture of efficiency, productivity, and mutual respect in the school workplace.

Classroom management begins with respect. This is something that schools should not run without. Society without respect leads to unstable nation. Without respect we could not function properly as a school. When you look around respect is everywhere we look.                                                                                                                             

- Respect for yourself                                                                                                                                                   - Respect for others                                                                                                                                                         - Respect your peers means not making fun of them, not fighting them, helping them when they are troubled by something,                                                                                                                                       - Respect for property means not damaging or taking something that is not yours.

There is a Japanese culture that teaches us to respect the environment because they believe that the earth is holy, such as trees, grass, and animals.

Time management plays a crucial role in the teaching profession, and is one of the most critical aspects of teaching. As educators, teachers are responsible for juggling numerous tasks, from lesson planning and classroom instruction to grading assignments and engaging with students and parents. With well-managed time, teachers can optimize their productivity, create a structured learning environment, and ultimately enhance student outcomes. Working as a teacher requires excellent time management skills. Teachers need to balance the long-term goals of the classroom, the immediate educational needs of the students and the large volume of paperwork that comes with every assignment. Between writing lesson plans, grading exams and actually teaching, teachers often feel that it is impossible to fit everything into the allocated time frame. With effective time management skills, teachers can increase their productivity and provide a better education for their students. Time management skills refer to knowing how to work “smarter”, by adopting and developing techniques to enhance the methods for selecting goals, approaching tasks, organizing work and enduring in achieving the set goals. Research has shown that adopting time management techniques increases efficiency and productivity and reduces the tendency to procrastinate. Research has shown that students who manage their time more efficiently have significantly higher achievements during their education process. 

Being on time to school, teachers and students establish a routine that fosters discipline and responsibility. This simple act of being on time cultivates organizational skills and time-management abilities that will serve them not only during their school years but throughout their lives. 

5. Lesson preparation  

It is fundamental to know and to check that teachers have a lesson planning in their classes to organize their ideas, topics and goals. This helps to maximize the effectiveness of teachings.

Any action in classroom must be prepared, all student questions should be responded.  Thinking beyond textbooks, teachers should expand their own knowledge base to satisfy their students’ thirst for learning. If you want to make the most of your teaching career and help students develop skills and competencies for success, preparation is an important part of your teaching journey. Learning about the teaching preparation process and why it's so crucial helps you to develop the skills and strategies to improve yourself as a teacher.

As you prepare to teach, you also develop skills to successfully guide students' learning. You can prepare for teaching by researching best practices or educational philosophies. You can also learn about issues that face education systems and develop strategies to face them in your career. One way to prepare for your teaching role is to discuss your career development with other educational professionals or mentors.

6. Promoting strong home-school communication and dialogue

Home to school communication is an important way for parents and teachers to keep each other informed about a child’s progress and needs. It's the teacher and parent’s responsibility to encourage and help students to play their role in the learning process journey. This requires to creates multiple channels for communications with parents (newsletters, WhatsApp group…)                                                                                    

All students deserve high-quality education, but some need additional support such as: vulnerable students and high-performing students. Both students need to be given more. Communication with parents helps teachers to better understand how children, especially those who require learning supports. Communication between school and home is not only important for the parent and educator, but also for the child. Working together, we can provide the support systems to ensure that the students succeed, academic, and socioemotional needs are met.

For those who understand real coaching, it may be a support to the student struggling with mental health problems, how to support them? How to help them to progress and to rebuild their confidence? it requires additional individual support.

If a student is absent from school for a period of time because of health reasons, how to help them catch up or how to reinforce their learning.

It’s very important after discussing with parents, compulsory additional courses can be given at the start of the school year to correct some weaknesses and support lessons in extra time for the most advanced students.

7. Conclusion

In the modern world, where entire industries are born and die every decade, there’s little doubt that creativity is an increasingly important asset. Creativity is a critical component for the type of divergent thinking necessary for innovation. Creativity is also a life skill, which can help students unlock new avenues in their personal self-expression. The creative process is the act of solving problems through innovation. 

Technology is a powerful tool for enhancing creativity and engagement in the classroom. For example, you could use interactive whiteboards, educational apps, and online tools to create multimedia presentations, digital stories, and interactive games that engage students and encourage them to think creatively. 

Veteran teachers and colleagues are another important resource for creative ideas. They can share ideas on how to promote creativity in the classroom based on their experiences. creative teaching is a powerful way to engage students in the learning process, promote creativity and innovation, and develop important life skills.

8. References

A) Yogesh Dalvi, Teacher’s Role in Shaping up a Successful School, <https://www.k12digest.com/teachers-role-in-shaping-up-a-successful-school/>

B) Winda Erlia, Roles of the teacher for increasing learning quality of students, Universitas Djuanda, Jawa Barat, Indonesia, ETUDE: Journal of Educational Research 2021 VOL. 1, NO. 3, 77-<86https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/559b/f5cf5a4b06a1127cd96ec33455c55883b326.pdf>.

C) Melissa Stormont, Linda Espinosa, Supporting Vulnerable Learners in the Primary Grades: Strategies to Prevent Early School Failure, University of Missouri-Columbia, Fall 2003 Volume 5 Number 2.

D) Sean J. Smith and Kavita Rao, Home and school communication, <https://schoolvirtually.org/home-and-school-communication/>

E) Drexel University School of Education, How to inspire creativity in the classroom, <https://drexel.edu/soe/resources/teacher-resources/inspire-creativity-in-the-classroom/#:~:text=In%20practice%2C%20that%20usually%20means,and%20encouraging%20its%20continuous%20development>.

F) http://www.ethics-education.eu/resources/ManualTeachers_EN.pdf

J) The Impact of the Reformation on the Economic Development of Western Europe by Sheremeta, Roman and Smith, Vernon https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/87220/1/MPRA_paper_87220.pdf

H) Samuel O. Obaki, Impact of classroom environment on children’s social behavior, 2017 Conscientia Beam, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 1-7 https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1209957.pdf.