The Bermuda Union of Teachers has called for better support and resources for the island’s educators ahead of World Teachers’ Day today.

The union further challenged the Ministry of Education to involve teachers more closely in education reform, explaining that appreciation should go “beyond mere words”.

The BUT explained that meaningful teacher consultation was not a union demand, but part of a good system design.

The union said: “Educators must be involved early enough to help shape decisions, not simply asked what they think after the policy is written.

“That is not collaboration, that is dictation.

“One comes with inherent respect, while the other implies that you’re lucky to have a job.”

World Teachers’ Day has been observed globally since 1994.

The BUT further called for reliable and timely pay, appropriate teacher and student support, manageable workloads and adequate time for preparation.

It demanded “safe and functional workplaces” that included fairness and resources that meet students’ needs.

The BUT said: “A teacher may be told that their work is valued, but that respect becomes much more meaningful when the systems around them demonstrate it.

“Words do matter — but systems matter more.”

It added that including teachers in education reform helped the changes better reflect the realities of the classroom.

The group said: “Standing with teachers means thinking beyond individual appreciation and considering the future of teaching itself.

“It means ensuring that teaching remains a profession that people are proud to enter, committed educators want to remain in and future generations can look to with confidence.”

The BUT added: “Standing with teachers should never be something we champion only on World Teachers’ Day — it should be something our education system demonstrates every day.”