World Teachers’ Day
- frontpageinitiative
- Oct 26, 2021
- 2 min read
First held in 1994, World Teachers’ Day was introduced by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, better known as UNESCO. On this day, we recognize the adoption of the 1966 Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. A collaboration between UNESCO and the International Labour Union, the Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers was a landmark achievement that outlined minimum standards for the rights and responsibilities of teachers. It provided a detailed guideline for countries to follow in order to provide proper education for their citizens, something that UNESCO considers a fundamental human right. World Teachers’ Day serves as a reminder of the progress that has been made and the work that must be done for the rights of teachers all over the world.
Each year, UNESCO holds celebrations for World Teachers’ Day; this often takes the form of panels and discussions at UNESCO Headquarters. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the official celebrations of the 2020 World Teachers’ Day were held online over the course of a week. Panels and workshops were focused around the theme of “Teachers: Leading in crisis, reimagining the future.” For this year’s World Teacher’s Day, the theme will be “Recover and Revitalize Education for the COVID-19 Generation.”
While the official events held by UNESCO are great opportunities for teachers to learn and network, they are not representative of how World Teachers’ Day is celebrated around the world. Rather than commemorating UNESCO’s accomplishment with the 1966 Recommendation, World Teachers’ Day is more commonly spent celebrating and acknowledging the contributions that teachers have made in our communities. Many parents and students do this by making it a habit to give thank you cards and presents to teachers annually. Several school boards have made compilations of students sharing their experiences with teachers. Some teachers even get in the celebrations themselves, if they are able to make time in their busy schedules.
This year, World Teachers’ Day will take place on Tuesday, October 5th. If you have a teacher that has impacted you or your school in a significant way, we encourage you to do something for them to show your appreciation. Whether it’s a simple thank you or a more elaborate celebration, your teachers are sure to appreciate the gesture.
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Published October 5, 2021
Written by Alex Truong ~ Edited by Anvita Chitrapu ~ Graphics by Vainilaa Anuragaran
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