World Teachers’ Day was established by UNESCO in 1994. World Teachers’ Day: A Celebration of Those Who Strive for Education for All Culture and Education
A new social contract for education is needed – one based on equality, fairness and universal human rights. This is what Yasmin Cherif, Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait, said in a statement on World Teachers’ Day, which is celebrated on 5 October.
World Teachers’ Day was established by UNESCO in 1994. On October 5, 1966, a conference convened by UNESCO and the International Labor Organization adopted a set of recommendations “Concerning the Status of Teachers” – the first international document defining the working conditions of teachers. This day is intended to draw attention to the position of teachers in society, their role in education and the development of children. World Teachers’ Day is celebrated by more than one hundred countries.
“Teachers are at the center of global efforts to ensure education for all,” Yasmine Cherif said in a statement. “Teachers are true heroes on the front lines of cultural development, nurturing young talent and building strong, healthy societies. In addition, they often make a significant contribution to the formation of a child’s identity in situations of armed conflict or humanitarian crisis, as well as in the face of dramatic climate change.”
The head of Education Cannot Wait recalled that in places like Beirut, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gaza, Haiti, Sudan and Ukraine, teachers are working in dangerous conditions to ensure children have access to quality education.
Education Cannot Wait is the United Nations’ global humanitarian fund that works to provide education in emergencies and protracted crises. Last year, the organization trained more than 100,000 teachers on topics including mental health, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, gender inclusion and disaster risk reduction. During this period, the fund’s efforts have educated a total of 5.6 million children and adolescents affected by crises.
According to a recent analysis by UNESCO, an additional 44 million teachers will be needed worldwide to achieve universal primary and secondary education by 2030.
“We can work together at the intersection of humanitarian action, development and peacebuilding to bring together teachers, students and communities to build a new social contract based on universal values and universal human rights,” Yasmine Cherif said in a statement. “Today, we honor all the teachers around the world who are doing their job in the most challenging situations.”