World Teacher’s Day 2024: Date, History, Significance and More, Everything you need to know

World Teacher’s Day 2024: This day is annually celebrated on 5 October to celebrate all teachers around the globe. It commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, which sets benchmarks regarding the rights and responsibilities of teachers, and standards for their initial preparation and further education, recruitment, employment, and teaching and learning conditions.

It was established in 1994 by UNESCO to commemorate the signing of the “Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers” in 1966. This recommendation sets benchmarks regarding the rights and responsibilities of teachers, their training, employment, and working conditions. The theme of World Teachers Day this year is ‘Valuing Teacher Voices: Towards a New Social Contract for Education.’

This day was launched with the motive of promoting help for teachers and creating awareness about the importance of teachers to meet the needs of future generations. The day is celebrated today in about 100 nations around the globe. On this day, programs are organized in schools and colleges in respect of their teachers.

World Teacher’s Day 2024: History

The history of World Teachers’ Day is traced back to 5th October 1966. The Special Intergovernmental Conference had been convened on the Status of Teachers in Paris, France to analyse issues affecting teachers and their profession. Finally, the Conference reached a consensus and closed their investigation. As a result, they published a document “Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers'” which was signed by both members of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and UNESCO.

World Teacher’s Day 2024: Significance

This day establishes the rights and obligations of teachers, sets international standards for initial training as well as for the continuing education of teachers and also sets international guidelines for the recruitment and employment of teachers. It will help in promoting a quality environment for education.

World Teacher’s Day 2024: Celebrations

On this day, professional organizations represent that teachers play an important role in our lives. Unions like The Australian Education Union, The Canadian Teacher’s Federation, The Elementary Teacher’s Federation of Ontario (Canada), The All India Secondary Teacher’s Federation, The National Union of Teachers (United Kingdom), The National Education Association (United States), etc. organize certain events to celebrate World Teacher’s Day.