The message came on Monday, October 5, as the country marked World Teachers’ Day, observed globally each year to recognise the contribution of teachers to education and society.

This year’s theme is “Supporting teachers: 60 years of protecting the teaching profession, promoting it and preparing our future.”

In a message posted on social media, the Ministry of Education said a teacher’s impact can often be seen in small but important moments in a student’s life.

“When a student finally understands a lesson they have struggled with, finds the courage to ask a question or begins to believe in their own abilities, there is often a teacher who helped them take that step,” the ministry said.

World Teachers’ Day traces its origins to 1966, when UNESCO and the International Labour Organization adopted a recommendation setting out standards and rights for teachers.

The global day was first celebrated in 1994 and has since become an opportunity to recognise teachers while drawing attention to the challenges facing the profession.

This year’s celebration comes as the 1966 recommendations reach their 60th anniversary and are being reviewed to reflect new realities in education, including the rapid growth of digital technology, climate change and the push for more inclusive education.

In Rwanda, about 110,000 teachers work across pre-primary, primary and secondary schools, according to figures from the Rwanda Education Board.

The government says steps have been taken to improve teachers’ welfare, while further measures are being considered to strengthen the profession and ensure educators feel valued for their role in shaping the country’s next generation.

For many students, however, the importance of a teacher goes beyond lessons and examinations, it can be the encouragement that helps a child believe they are capable of achieving more.