Overview

• Observed on October 5 each year, the day marks the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation on teachers’ status and is co-convened by UNESCO, the ILO, UNICEF and Education International.
• This year’s focus moves teaching from isolated practice to sustained teamwork to improve learning, retention and teacher well-being.
• UNESCO and partners call for protected time for joint lesson planning, embedded mentorship for early‑career educators, revised accountability that rewards collective improvement, and funded professional learning communities.
• A flagship program integrated into the Pan‑African Conference on Teacher Education in Addis Ababa features statements from senior agency representatives and a ministerial panel led by the African Union.
• Coverage highlights a global deficit of about 44 million teachers and qualification gaps concentrated in sub‑Saharan Africa and Southern Asia, alongside public messages and celebrations honoring educators.