Organised by Eastern Mediterranean University Education Faculty, a panel entitled “Being a Teacher in the New Era: Expectations and Facts” took place on Wednesday, 16 December 2015 with the participation of TRNC Minister of Education Kemal Dürüst. The panel commenced with a moment of silence and the national anthem followed by opening addresses and piano and flute performance of EMU Education Faculty, Fine Arts Education Department, Music Teaching Program academic staff members.
In her opening address, EMU Education Faculty Acting Dean Prof. Dr. Ülker Vancı Osam welcomed all participants and stated that the teaching profession has an important role in the shaping and modernisation of a society as well as the establishment of a civilised world. Prof. Dr. Ülker Vancı Osam also put forth that the architects of a country’s future are teachers as they bring up engineers, doctors, lawyers, teachers, soldiers, policemen, drivers and many other individuals in a country’s workforce. Prof. Dr. Osam also talked about various difficulties encountered in the teaching profession including frequent changes in educational policies, economic problems, workload, low interest level of students and parents, and conflicts encountered with school administrators, all of which form the basis for the organisation of the panel.
Following Prof. Dr. Ülker Vancı Osam, EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Necdet Osam delivered an opening speech and stated that the quality of being a teacher is one of the most important qualities in the world. Prof. Dr. Osam added that in today’s world, the majority of the world population, especially in our region, are suffering due to wars and in this context, the primary role of the teachers should be equipping their students with love towards humanity as well as humanistic and ethical values. Prof. Dr. Osam also highlighted the importance of following current developments in technology for teachers.
TRNC Minister of Education Kemal Dürüst also delivered an opening address and expressed his happiness in taking part in a meaningful organisation as such. Adding that he is also a teacher, Minister Dürüst put forth that teachers should be aware of the fact that learning is an ongoing process and that teachers should own their own state and national values. Minister Kemal Dürüst also expressed his pleasure in addressing prospective teachers in the panel.
The said panel which took place under the moderatorship of EMU Education Faculty, Educational Sciences Department academic staff member Prof. Dr. Mehmet Durdu Karslı hosted the presentations of Ziya Öztürkler from TRNC Ministry of Education, Burak Maviş from Cyprus Turkish Teachers’ Union, EMU Education Faculty, Educational Sciences Department academic staff member Assist. Prof. Dr. Mine Sancar, İskele Bekirpaşa High School English teacher Özge Öğmen and EMU Education Faculty, Elementary Education Department, Class Teaching Program final year student Birgül Pektaş.
TRNC Ministry of Education, Higher Education and External Affairs Department Director Ziya Öztürkler expressed his pride and happiness in being a teacher and added that the teaching profession involves lifelong development and learning. Öztürkler also put forth that the most important thing that the TRNC Ministry of Education expects from teachers is for them to love their profession. In his speech, the representative of Cyprus Turkish Teachers’ Union Burak Maviş stated that prospective teachers should love and demonstrate respect towards their profession and treat students with tenderness and devotion. Assist. Prof. Dr. Mine Sancar, highlighted the professional skills the teachers should have while performing their profession. Assist. Prof. Dr. Sancar added that teachers should continuously develop themselves. Providing information about problems encountered in schools from teachers’ perspectives, Özge Öğmen talked about teachers’ responsibilities. Finally, Birgül Pektaş provided information on the model of a teacher as a prospective teacher. Pektaş also added that the biggest problem teacher candidates face in Turkey is the KPSS exam.
