World Teachers’ Day is celebrated annually on October 5 to honour and appreciate the work of teachers worldwide. This day was established in 1994. This year, the theme for World Teachers’ Day is “Valuing teacher voices: Towards a new social contract for education”
World Teachers’ Day 2024: The day is observed on October 5 annually (Photo credit: depositphotos)
New Delhi: World Teachers’ Day is celebrated on October 5 annually to honour and appreciate teachers worldwide. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) established this day in 1994. It marks the anniversary of adopting the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, which sets standards for teachers’ rights and responsibilities, training, recruitment, employment, and working conditions.
In 1997, the Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel was also adopted to cover teaching personnel in higher education.
World Teachers’ Day recognises the vital role of teachers in shaping education and considers the support they need to fulfil their potential and contribute to the profession globally. This day is co-convened in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO), UNICEF, and Education International (EI).
Every year, a different theme is set for the day. Let us look at this year’s theme.
World Teachers’ Day 2024: What is the theme for this year?
This year’s World Teachers’ Day theme is “Valuing teacher voices: Towards a new social contract for education”.
The teaching profession is not highly valued in many countries, causing a teacher shortage and high dropout rates. Teachers face many challenges, such as poor working conditions, low pay, and heavy workloads.
Teachers also lack social recognition, professional autonomy, and influence in decision-making.
Ignoring teachers’ voices negatively affects their motivation and the effectiveness of education policies. Despite their central role, few countries involve teachers in decision-making processes.
The ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers (1966) emphasises the importance of cooperation between governments, teacher organisations, and research institutions to define education policy. High unionisation levels are linked to positive outcomes for teachers and education. To address these issues, there is a need to develop a culture of trust and collaboration and to respect and value teachers inside and outside the classroom.
Teachers must be at the centre of the transformation of education, and a new social contract with teachers is needed.
Social dialogue, which involves negotiation and consultation between governments, employers, and workers, can give workers a voice in decisions affecting them. In education, it’s important to encourage teachers to work together and respect the formation of teacher organisations.
Strengthening social dialogue processes and structures positively contributes to building teachers’ sense of ownership of educational policy.
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