Celebrating World Teachers' Day on October 5

Dec. 30, 2024, 3:05 p.m.

World Teachers' Day, celebrated on October 5, acknowledges educators' contributions and promotes quality education worldwide. This day is observed in over 100 countries, with a theme each year highlighting significant issues in the teaching profession. This year's theme is ‘Valuing Teacher Voices: Towards a New Social Contract for Education’. Established by UNESCO in 1994, World Teachers' Day commemorates the signing of the ‘Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers’ in 1966, which outlines the rights, responsibilities, training, and working conditions for educators.

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Since its inception, the day has focused on various themes, addressing topics such as inclusive education, teachers' rights, digital learning, and challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The second key document, the ‘UNESCO Recommendation Concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel’, was adopted in 1997 to extend similar rights to university educators. World Teachers' Day not only celebrates teachers but also highlights ongoing challenges, such as inadequate working conditions and lack of professional development. It serves as a reminder for communities to express gratitude for teachers' hard work and dedication.

UNESCO's celebrations will include an opening ceremony featuring messages from various organizations, a keynote address emphasizing the need for a new social contract in education, and sessions amplifying teachers' voices. Additionally, the UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development will honour exceptional contributions to the profession, ensuring that teachers' perspectives are integral to educational policies and practices.