World Teachers Day [October 5, 2022]

By : Neha Dhyani

Updated : Oct 10, 2022, 21:58

Every year on the 5th of October, World Teachers Day honors all teachers worldwide. It marks the 50th anniversary of the ILO/UNESCO Recommendation on the Status of Teachers, establishing guidelines for teachers' rights and obligations and criteria for initial and continuing education, recruiting, employment, and teaching and learning circumstances. This day is also known by the name international teachers' day.

In 1997, the Recommendation Concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Staff was adopted to supplement the 1966 Recommendation by addressing higher-education teaching personnel. Since 1994, World Teachers Day has been observed. The primary aim of teachers day is to make people aware of a teacher's role in building a good society.

World Teachers Day Theme

Every year, a theme is decided for World Teachers Day. Following the theme, a five-day series of global and regional events take place on this day. According to UNESCO, these events emphasize the impact of the pandemic on the teaching profession, highlighting effective and promising policy responses and identifying the steps needed to ensure that global teaching staff reaches their full potential. Here is more information about International Teachers Day:

  • The theme for International Teachers Day 2022 is yet to be determined.
  • The theme for 2021 was "Teachers are the heart of education recovery" - While the entire world was struggling with bringing the old teaching methods back, teachers were the ones who were carrying the burden of taking education forward in these challenging times.
  • The theme of World Teachers Day 2020 was "Teachers: leading in crisis, reimagining the future" - The day aimed to celebrate all the teachers who contribute to building an educated society. Several teachers voice their opinions and make efforts to educate everyone.
  • The theme for International Teachers Day 2019 was “The right to education means the right to a qualified teacher” - This theme made people realize the importance of teachers in fulfilling the right to education.

World Teachers Day - History

The first World Teachers Day was celebrated on the 5th of October, 1966. In Paris, France, a Special Intergovernmental Conference on the Status of Teachers was held to examine concerns impacting teachers and their profession. The Conference finally agreed and concluded their study.

As a result, they released a document titled "Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers," signed by both ILO and UNESCO members. This is celebrated in the form of World Teachers Day. The document contains outlines related to the following:

  • Education personnel policy
  • Recruitment
  • Initial training as well as the continuing education of teachers
  • Employment of teachers
  • Working conditions of teachers

World Teachers Day Significance

International Teachers Day has a lot of relevance. On this day, several countries celebrate teachers and teaching as a profession. World Teachers Day is critical in showing teachers how much they are valued, encouraging more people to pursue careers as teachers, and raising awareness about issues facing the profession. Teachers may be inspired to make changes due to the discussions and support they receive on this special day.

Why Should we Celebrate International Teachers Day?

Teachers day is a day that is celebrated extensively in schools across different parts of the world. Here, we have given some of the reasons why we should celebrate this day:

  • It recognizes the teachers’ efforts in creating a more educated society.
  • It honors the numerous people who take up this challenging profession.
  • It honors the teachers' diligent efforts to keep the classes going, even during a global pandemic.

Celebrations on World Teachers Day

On World Teachers day, the 5th of October, various events are held in different nations throughout the world. While different countries might have different days for celebrating teachers' day, all countries still conduct seminars and events on this day to make people aware of the role a teacher plays in shaping education. International Teachers Day is a celebration of all teachers across the globe. Here are some ways in which it is celebrated:

  • Conferences highlighting the value of teachers and learning, and additional teacher training sessions, are conducted to make people realize the importance of teachers and teaching as a profession.
  • Several recruitment drives are organized for potential teachers in universities and colleges. The primary aim of these events is to showcase the importance of teachers and how they shape the world.
  • Events, competitions, and discussions are held in schools and colleges.

World Teachers Day and National Teachers Day

World Teachers Day is celebrated at a global level on 5th October every year. However, many countries celebrate their own teachers day nationally. In India, 5th September, the day on which Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan was born, is regarded as National Teachers Day. The day is commemorated with a lot of enthusiasm all around the country.

Important Current Affairs Topics

National Science DayWorld Arthritis Day
National Security DayInternational Girl Child Day
National Milk DayWorld Post Day
World Heart DayNational Tree Of India
World Day For Audiovisual HeritageInternational Music Day

FAQs on World Teachers Day

Q.1. When is World Teachers Day celebrated?

World Teachers Day is celebrated every year on the 5th of October. This day is celebrated to honor the efforts of teachers in creating a more educated and literate society.

Q.2. Which organization inaugurated World Teachers Day?

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization inaugurated World Teachers Day by signing the UNESCO/ILO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers.

Q.3. What is the World Teachers Day 2022 theme?

The theme for World Teachers Day 2022 has not been disclosed yet but will be announced shortly. The World Teachers Day theme 2021 was “Teachers are the heart of education recovery.”

Q.4. Why is World Teachers Day celebrated?

World Teachers Day is celebrated because on that day, the members of ILO and UNESCO signed the document on the status of teachers in 1966. Since then, the day has honored this event.