THE best teachers teach from the heart and not from the book.

And 25 years into the profession – local teacher Mrs Debbie Louw is still as passionate as the first day she walked into a classroom to deliver her first lesson.

On World Teachers’ Day on Friday, the grade 1 teacher of Empangeni Preparatory School was found doing what she loves the most – imparting knowledge, wisdom and love with a warm smile on her face.

Pupils worldwide showed a little extra love and appreciation for their daily mentors and to no surprise Empangeni grade 1’s showered their much appreciated teacher with warm hugs and friendly smiles.

World Teachers’ Day was celebrated throughout the country to show value and appreciation to teachers.

Under the theme ‘reigniting the integrity of the teaching profession’, an Educational Roundtable seminar involving experienced speakers, teacher organisations and classroom based teachers was held in Durban on Friday.  The seminar was aimed at celebrating the contribution of teachers in a democratic context and to strengthen the professionalisation of teachers.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) inaugurated World Teachers’ Day in 1994 to focus attention on the contributions and achievements of teachers and to highlight teachers’ concerns and priorities regarding education.