Take a stand for teachers!
“Take a stand for teachers!” is the slogan of this year’s World Teachers’ Day, an annual celebration on 5th October started in 1994 by UNESCO, to draw attention to the rights of teachers worldwide.
“On this day, we call for teachers to receive supportive environments, adequate quality training as well as ‘safeguards’ for teachers’ rights and responsibilities…We expect a lot from teachers – they, in turn, are right to expect as much from us. This World Teachers’ Day is an opportunity for all to take a stand.” – Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General
World Teachers’ Day calls attention the need to raise the status of teachers – not only for the benefit of teachers and students, but for society as a whole, to acknowledge the crucial role teachers play in building the future. Quality education does not exist without competent and motivated teachers, whose rights should be recognised as widely as the rights of their students. Teachers need adequate training, ongoing professional development, and protection for teachers’ rights.
Teachers and students are the two key factors in education, and the struggles for teachers and students rights are equally important to make sure that quality education becomes a reality everywhere in the world. The World Teachers’ Day celebrated today will be followed next month by the International Students’ Day on 17th November.
