October 5 is World Teachers’ Day and this year the theme is “Young Teachers: The Future of the Profession.” The following is an excerpt from a joint message from UNESCO, ILO, UNICEF, UNDP, and Education International regarding this year’s theme:
“With the theme: ‘Young Teachers: The Future of the Profession,’ we recognize the critical importance of reaffirming the value of the teaching mission. We call upon governments to make teaching a profession of first choice for young people. We also invite teacher unions, private sector employers, school principals, parent-teacher associations, school management committees, education officials and teacher trainers to share their wisdom and experiences in promoting the emergence of a vibrant teaching force.
Above all, we celebrate the work of dedicated teachers around the world who continue to strive every day to ensure that ‘inclusive and equitable quality education’ and the promotion of ‘lifelong learning opportunities for all’ become a reality in every corner of the globe.”
To read the message in its entirety, click here.
On October 7, UNESCO will host a celebratory event at its headquarters in Paris. The event will include two discussion panels: “How to attract young people to the teaching profession” and “How to retain young and novice teachers to the profession.” The event will also include a discussion of the book Teaching Life: Our Calling, Our Choices, Our Challenges and a musical performance by Burkinabe rap artist Nael Melerd. Following UNESCO’s lead, other celebratory events are set to take place around the world.
World Teachers’ Day commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of the Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, which was put forth by UNESCO and the International Labour Organization in 1966. To learn more about UNESCO’s commitment to education, click here.
