World Teachers’ Day, 5 October 2019
Since 1994, World Teachers’ Day has been celebrated annually on 5 October. The Day commemorates the anniversary of the signing of the 1966 UNESCO/ILO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, which is the main framework for addressing teachers’ rights and responsibilities on a global scale. The theme for 2019 is “Young Teachers: The Future of the Profession.”
Around the world, celebrations honoring teachers bring together governments, multi- and bilateral organizations, NGOs, private sectors, teachers, and experts in the field of teaching. With the adoption of Sustainable Development Goal 4, and the dedicated target 4.c recognizing teachers as key to the achievement of the 2030 Education Agenda, it has become an occasion to mark teachers’ achievements and reflect on ways to address remaining challenges facing the teaching profession, such as an acute shortage of teachers. According to the UNESCO Institute of Statistics, 69 million teachers are needed to help us achieve universal primary and secondary education by 2030.
Below are some suggested ways to honor teachers during the upcoming months:
- Celebrate teachers during a school assembly and present certificates of appreciation
- Hold a morning tea or luncheon to honor teachers
- Create social media campaigns honoring teachers and encourage teachers, parents, and caregivers to join
- Visit a former teacher
- Send a card to a current or former teacher
- Send a card to your child’s teacher
- Collaborate with others to decorate a teacher’s classroom or a teachers’ lounge
- Support students in creating a thank-you book
- Volunteer in the classroom
- Compile photos from a teacher’s class into a book or video to share
- Create a banner to display at the school or business nearby
- Purchase books for the school library and attach bookplates with the teacher’s name
- Coordinate with local business to provide gift certificates for goods or services.