It’s World Teachers’ Day so remember to thank an educator!

UNESCO will celebrate World Teachers’ Day (WTD) on Oct. 5 by highlighting the importance of empowering teachers to achieve inclusive and sustainable global development, according to a news release from UNESCO’s world headquarters in Paris, where the day will be marked by an address from Qian Tang, UNESCO assistant director-general for education, followed by a panel discussion and roundtables on the importance of early childhood education.

“Empowering teachers, building sustainable societies” is the theme of this year’s World Teachers’ Day. Worldwide, there is a growing shortage of quality teachers combined with inadequate professional training. The UNESCO Institute for Statistics estimates that to achieve universal primary education by 2020, countries will need to recruit a total of 10.9 million primary teachers, the news releaseclaimed.

“World Teachers’ Day recognizes teachers’ core contributions to building sustainable societies and helping us realize the goal of quality education for all learners,” UNESCO Bangkok Director Gwang-Jo Kim said in a UNESCO release.

Taking part in the Paris event will be international delegations, NGOs in partnership with UNESCO, teachers and teacher training institutions and representatives of global academic initiatives.

“We have entrusted teachers with the critical task of moulding the minds of future generations. They need, and deserve, our support to carry out their work,” Kim added.