UNESCO and ILO Stress Teacher Welfare on World Teachers’ Day

World Teachers’ Day was observed on October 5, 2026, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the 1966 International Labour Organisation/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. This year's theme, ‘Standing with teachers: 60 years of protecting the profession, advancing its status and shaping our futures,’ focused on reviewing current challenges related to teacher status and strategies for addressing them.

UNESCO, along with leaders from the International Labour Organisation, UNICEF, and Education International, emphasized the importance of ensuring teachers have the necessary conditions for effective work, including quality education, professional learning opportunities, and supportive environments. They noted the urgent need for 50 million additional teachers by 2030 to achieve universal education goals.

The leaders called for concrete actions to enhance the esteem and support for teachers, highlighting the necessity of recruiting new teachers while retaining experienced ones, and advancing gender equality in teaching roles.