World Teacher´s Day, 5th October

UNESCO celebrates this day every year in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO), UNICEF and Education International (EI). “It is a day to celebrate how teachers are transforming education but also to reflect on the support they need to fully deploy their talent and vocation, and to rethink the way for the profession globally” (UNESCO).

The World Teacher´s Day has been celebrated since 1994. The day commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of the 1996 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers and the Recommendation concerning the Status of Higer-Education Teaching Personnel adopted in 1997, which complements the 1966 Recommendation by covering teaching personnel in higher education.

The theme of this year is: The teachers we need for the education we want: The global imperative to reverse the teacher shortage.

”In the age of knowledge societies and industry 4.0, technology, and artificial intelligence, we must recognise that teachers remain at the heart of education and learning processes as the experts capable of helping everyone navigate through, and make sense of, an ever-growing mass of information, data, and unverified knowledge.“ (UNESCO Info Agenda 2023).

The goal of the events is to emphasize the importance of qualified teachers and search for ways to:

• increase the number of teachers in schools.
• attract young teachers and motivate them to stay in the profession.
• help teachers overcome challenges related with the teaching process, the school environment, and lack of recognition and respect in society.

Click the links below to learn more about the topics and programme:

• British Council webinars, 5-7^th October, discuss the role of role-plays, teaching spelling with spelling journals; tips on speaking activities, learner´s autonomy, and wide range of topics related to teaching methodology and professional development.
• UNESCO panel discussions and roundtables, 5-6^th October, discuss the role of teacher prizes, challenges and support for teachers in hardship situations. Register for the events here.