October is Teacher Appreciation Month, an occasion to pay tribute to the educators who shape the future of our nation. BIC, a world leader in stationery, understands the importance of empowering teachers with the essential tools they need to excel in their profession and provide students with high-quality education.
While we celebrate our teachers, we must acknowledge their daily hurdles. According to research done by the University of Pretoria, despite their immense importance, teachers continue to face numerous challenges which arise from a variety of factors, including lack of parental involvement, lack of resources, poor background of learners, a high teacher-to-learner ratio, and social, behavioral and intellectual problems. Sadly, there is also a lack of resources and poor support from the District-Based Support Teams and School-Based Support Systems. Despite these difficulties, teachers remain committed.
In light of these challenges, BIC’s commitment to supporting teachers goes beyond supplying them with the necessary writing tools. BIC was able to tap into educators in the country through various initiatives in the aim of elevating the quality of education in the classroom, and rewarding teachers for their hard work and commitment towards the field. The Colour Your Classroom initiative and the BIC Stationery Teachers Group, on Facebook are flagship programs that speak to that.
Commenting on the company’s commitment towards supporting teachers, Lillian Henderson, Marketing Director, Southern and Eastern Africa, said: “We are committed to improving learning conditions for 250 million students globally by the year 2025. That is our north star when we think of education, in South Africa and beyond. Working with teachers to help provide them with the necessary tools to elevate the quality of learning in the classroom – through writing tools, stationery material, or content – is foundational in enhancing learning conditions for students overall.
This year, we connected with teachers through a more intimate platform – focus groups, to better understand the challenges they face and opportunities they have. This engagement allows us to strategically plan our education-focused initiatives leveraging evidence-based data.”
In 2021, BIC launched an initiative known as the BIC Teacher Leader program, which aims to empower and assist teachers in incorporating more writing into their classroom curriculum and at-home activities, with the ultimate goal of enhancing students’ writing skills. By equipping educators and parents with the necessary tools and promoting a comprehensive learning experience, this program seeks to create a positive impact on the education landscape.
Education continues to be at the core of BIC’s mission, and the company remains committed to its Writing the Future Together sustainable development program goals, of which education is a key pillar. Through its national flagship initiative, Buy a Pen Donate a Pen, dedicated to delivering the necessary writing tools to students, BIC South Africa has donated over 14 million writing tools to schools in need to date.
