A global day honoring teachers and highlighting their essential role in shaping education and society.
Date5 October
TopicEducation & Awareness
Established1994
Ways to observe this day
Thank a teacher who influenced your life with a message or visit
Join a school event honoring teachers
Share a story about an inspiring teacher on social media
Support an initiative focused on teacher training or resources
UNESCO, in partnership with the International Labour Organization, designated October 5 as World Teachers' Day in 1994, commemorating the signing of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, the first international instrument to set standards for teachers' rights, responsibilities, and working conditions.
The day recognizes teachers' contributions worldwide while spotlighting the challenges they face, including resource shortages and low pay in many countries, and calls for investment in their training and professional development as the foundation of quality education. It also underscores teachers' central role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of quality education for all.
Schools, universities, and educational institutions around the world mark the day by honoring outstanding teachers, holding appreciation events, and launching awareness campaigns about the global shortage of qualified teachers.