Every year on 5 October, World Teachers’ Day celebrates teachers’ efforts in transforming education around the world, while acknowledging the support and resources they need to excel in their vocation as well as reevaluating the way forward for this profession.
At the LearningPlanet Alliance, we strive to highlight and hear from teachers leading the way forward from all over the world. Read on to meet Hazara Baik, who has been teaching for 33 years in Government schools in the Badakshan province of Afghanistan.
How does one become a climate educator?
To become a climate educator, I believe one must follow both formal education as well as self-studies, and use the knowledge they have learned through their experiences. Televised programs, documentaries and modern technology are also great ways of informing oneself. It is also important to gather knowledge of the surrounding environment in all four different seasons of the year.
Who and what are your sources of inspiration?
My inspirations lie in a mix of my experiences of natural disasters, my participation in helping in the fight against climate change and the experiments of people of the past fighting against climate change.
My participation in workshops and seminars on preventing natural disasters as well as my own interest in educating people about the dangers of climate change are also big sources of inspiration for me. The desire to reduce the effects of climate change keeps motivating me in my work.
How do you and other teachers involve kids this age on such topics?
Involving kids necessitates educating them on climate change and environmental issues, as well as the dangers these issues pose to their future. Practical work and games that relate to climate change are also great ways to motivate kids to be involved in being part of the change.
What’s the best advice your students have given you?
The best advice my students have given me is through their actions and involvement in educating themselves on the effects of climate change. They seek information and are interested in improving their knowledge in order to serve the public in this regard. They constantly seek to learn more.
Are you optimistic about the future?
I am both optimistic and worried.
I am worried because most developed countries keep producing greenhouse gases without reducing their carbon footprint. Because of this, we will witness increasingly hotter weather and more droughts in the future. Likewise, the production and usage of plastic will contribute to air pollution and natural disasters.
In the meantime, I am optimistic about the future, as technology and science are improving and I believe technological improvements will help in containing natural disasters.
Meet Hazara
Hazara Baik is the son of Sha Sekandar, from Zargaran Village of Ishkashem District, the Badakshan province of Afghanistan.
He graduated from TTC of Ishkashem, Department of Science.
He is 54 years old and has been teaching for 33 years in government schools of Ishkashem and Wakhan districts in Afghanistan.
