History & Significance of International Day of Education

The international day of Education is usually observed on the 24th of January every year to celebrate the role of education for peace and development.

Education is the process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university, and according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization “a human right, a public good and a public responsibility.’

UNESCO noted that without inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong opportunities for all, countries will not succeed in achieving gender equality and breaking the cycle of poverty.

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the day as International Day of Education on the same day in  2018. The fourth edition of the International Day of Education in 2022, was celebrated under the theme “Changing Course, Transforming Education”.

Significance of International Day of Education

Stating the importance of the International Day of Education UNESCO stated that transforming the future requires an urgent rebalancing of our relationships with each other, with nature as well as with technology that permeates our lives, bearing breakthrough opportunities while raising serious concerns for equity, inclusion and democratic participation.

The International Day of Education is a platform to showcase the most important transformations that have to be nurtured to realize everyone’s fundamental right to education and build a more sustainable, inclusive and peaceful future.

The organization noted that “258 million children and youth still do not attend school; 617 million children and adolescents cannot read and do basic math; less than 40% of girls in sub-Saharan Africa complete lower secondary school and some four million children and youth refugees are out of school.”

So therefore there is a need to generate a debate around how to strengthen education as a public endeavour and common good, how to steer the digital transformation, support teachers, safeguard the planet and unlock the potential in every person to contribute to collective well-being and our shared home.