Every year on October 5, the world comes together to celebrate World Teachers’ Day, a special day devoted to honoring teachers across the globe. It’s a time to recognize the invaluable role that educators play in shaping the future and to say thank you for their dedication. Beyond celebration, it’s also a moment to reflect on the support teachers need, from better training and collaboration to the financial means that help keep classrooms running. This article explores the history and significance of World Teachers’ Day (including what’s in store for 2025), highlights the vital contributions of teachers worldwide, and shows how communities, often with the help of remittances from abroad, support education by covering school fees and other educational needs.

When is World Teachers’ Day?

World Teachers’ Day is celebrated each year on October 5th. No matter what day of the week it falls on, October 5 is the official day when teachers are honored worldwide. In 2025, World Teachers’ Day will take place on Sunday, October 5, meaning many schools and communities may hold their tributes on the preceding Friday or Monday. This date marks the anniversary of a landmark step for educators: the signing of the 1966 UNESCO/ILO Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers, which set standards for teachers’ rights, training, and working conditions. World Teachers’ Day has been celebrated globally since 1994, and over the decades, it has grown into a truly international observance. (Some countries also have their own national Teacher’s Day on different dates, for example, India’s is September 5, and Australia’s is the last Friday of October, but October 5 is the universally recognized day to celebrate all teachers around the world.)

History and Significance of World Teachers’ Day

World Teachers’ Day was established by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) in partnership with organizations like Education International and the International Labour Organization. The date October 5 was chosen to commemorate the 1966 UNESCO/ILO Recommendation, a document that for the first time set international standards for teachers’ status, recruitment, and conditions of employment. By celebrating teachers on a global scale, UNESCO aimed to draw attention to both the critical contribution of teachers and the challenges they face. As UNESCO explains, it is a day to celebrate how teachers are transforming education and to reflect on what support they need “to fully deploy their talent and vocation” in the coming years. In other words, World Teachers’ Day isn’t only about gratitude, it’s also about raising awareness of the essential role of teachers and the need to invest in the teaching profession for the future.

Each year, World Teachers’ Day is organized around a specific theme that highlights a priority or issue in education. Past themes have focused on empowering teachers, addressing teacher shortages, valuing teachers’ voices, and more. These themes are chosen jointly by UNESCO and Education International and serve as a springboard for discussions, policy announcements, and events around the world. By zeroing in on a theme every year, the day helps shine a spotlight on key aspects of education, whether it’s training, gender equality among teachers, teacher appreciation, or educational recovery in times of crisis. The overarching goal is always to ensure that teachers are recognized as the backbone of the education system and given the respect and resources they deserve.

World Teachers’ Day 2025: “Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession”

This year’s World Teachers’ Day 2025 carries the theme “Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession.” UNESCO has chosen this theme to highlight the power of teamwork and mutual support among educators. Teaching is often seen as an isolated activity, with one teacher alone in a classroom, but 2025’s theme emphasizes that when teachers collaborate, everyone benefits. Sharing ideas, mentoring each other, and working in teams can help teachers feel more supported and improve their effectiveness. As UNESCO notes, many teachers today work without enough opportunities for peer learning or mentoring, which can leave them feeling isolated and affect the quality of education. By reframing teaching as inherently collaborative, supported by policies and school cultures that encourage teamwork, the hope is to strengthen both teacher satisfaction and student learning outcomes.

World Teachers’ Day 2025 is also special in that its global celebration event is being hosted in Africa. A worldwide gathering is set to take place as part of the Pan-African Conference on Teacher Education in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Education leaders, teacher representatives, and policymakers will come together to discuss this year’s theme, sharing success stories of collaboration and exploring ways to make the teaching profession more connected and resilient. By convening in Africa, a region where the need for more qualified teachers is especially urgent, the 2025 celebration is putting a spotlight on the challenges and opportunities in regions where education plays a key role in development. It’s a reminder that World Teachers’ Day is truly global: it honors teachers from all corners of the world, from the most urban schools to the remotest village classrooms.

Teachers Shape the Future of Society

No matter where you live, if you can read these words or solve a math problem, chances are you have a teacher to thank. Teachers play a key role in shaping the future, unlocking every learner’s potential and imparting not just academic knowledge but also values and inspiration. They are mentors and role models who ignite curiosity, encourage critical thinking, and nurture the talents of their students. In the words of UNESCO, teachers are essential for achieving our global education goals because they open the doors of opportunity for children and adults alike. A good teacher can make an extraordinary difference in a person’s life. Many of us carry lessons from our favorite teachers throughout our lives, passing on that wisdom to others.

What’s truly remarkable is how teachers transform lives, often under very challenging circumstances. In rural villages, teachers might teach multiple grade levels at once, sometimes in a single-room schoolhouse or even under a tree, yet they persevere so that children in their community can have a better future. In cities, teachers may contend with overcrowded classrooms or limited resources, but they still find ways to engage and support each child. From war-torn regions where teachers ensure some normalcy for children in conflict, to fast-changing technological societies where teachers continuously learn new skills to prepare students for the future, educators worldwide show incredible dedication. World Teachers’ Day is a chance to celebrate these everyday heroes. By shaping young minds and guiding the next generation, teachers truly shape society’s future course. As the saying goes, “Teaching is the one profession that creates all other professions.” Every doctor, engineer, artist, or leader was taught by a teacher at some point, and that is a legacy any teacher can be proud of.

Challenges Educators Face: A Global Teacher Shortage

While we celebrate teachers’ contributions, it’s also important to recognize that the teaching profession faces significant challenges globally. Perhaps the most alarming issue is the shortage of teachers in many countries. According to a recent UNESCO report, the world will need about 44 million new primary and secondary teachers by 2030 to meet the demand for education. This number includes filling new positions as well as replacing a generation of veteran teachers who are retiring or leaving the profession. In regions like sub-Saharan Africa, the challenge is especially acute; an estimated 15 million additional teachers will be needed across African countries by 2030 to achieve universal schooling. These figures underscore a stark reality: we need to invest in recruiting, training, and retaining teachers on an unprecedented scale in the coming years.

The teacher shortage isn’t just about future projections; it’s being felt right now in classrooms worldwide. Many countries, both developing and developed, are struggling to attract and keep qualified teachers. In some places, low salaries and difficult working conditions discourage people from entering or staying in the profession. In others, rapid population growth means student enrollment is outpacing the hiring of teachers. A global attrition rate is also part of the problem; teachers are leaving the profession faster than before. In fact, attrition among primary school teachers nearly doubled from about 4.6% in 2015 to over 9% in 2022, with many new teachers leaving within their first five years. This high turnover puts strain on education systems and can affect the continuity and quality of students’ learning. World Teachers’ Day shines a light on these issues, advocating for better support, respect, and incentives for teachers to stem the tide of shortages.

Education in Regions That Need It Most

Education is universally important, but in some regions it can literally be a lifeline out of poverty. Sadly, these are often the same regions facing the greatest educational challenges. Hundreds of millions of children worldwide are still out of school, most of them in low-income countries. A recent open letter from education advocates pointed out that 244 million children are out of school globally, more than the entire population of Brazil, with children from the poorest families most likely to be denied an education. Many of these children are kept out of school by factors like conflict, gender discrimination, or distance to the nearest school. But a very common reason is also the simplest: their families cannot afford the school fees, uniforms, or supplies required. “Children from families living in poverty are least likely to get an education, with many simply unable to afford school fees,” the letter notes. When education is not truly free or when households are struggling just to survive, schooling often becomes an unattainable luxury.

The implications of this education gap are profound. Lack of access to schooling traps families in the cycle of poverty and robs communities of their potential. Conversely, investing in education yields enormous benefits. UNESCO estimates that if all adults worldwide completed secondary education, global poverty rates would be cut in half, lifting 420 million people out of poverty. In other words, a better-educated population leads to higher incomes, better health, and more stable societies. This is why regions like sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, which account for a large share of out-of-school children, are focal points for international education initiatives. It’s also why supporting teachers in these areas (for example, through training or higher salaries to attract educators to remote locations) is so critical. The theme of World Teachers’ Day 2025, collaboration, resonates strongly here: global cooperation and solidarity are needed to resolve teacher shortages and extend quality education to every child.

Fortunately, communities are not waiting passively for solutions; they often band together to support education even in difficult circumstances. In many developing countries, local communities help build schools, volunteer to teach basic lessons, or advocate for policy changes like free schooling. Additionally, one of the unsung forces bolstering education in underserved regions is financial support from abroad, which brings us to the role of remittances.

Remittances: A Lifeline for Education

For millions of families around the world, remittances, the money sent home by relatives working abroad, are a financial lifeline. These funds often make the difference between a child going to school and having to stay home. In fact, it’s estimated that about three-quarters of remittances are used to cover essential needs: putting food on the table, paying medical bills, covering housing costs, and paying school fees. Education is usually high on the list of priorities for remittance-receiving households. Parents and grandparents use the money sent by family members overseas to buy school uniforms, textbooks, and stationery, or to pay tuition and exam fees. In communities where public education isn’t fully free or where extra tutoring is needed, remittances help ensure children don’t miss out on learning because of financial hardship.

The scale of remittance flows is enormous, and underscores just how crucial they are for developing countries. In 2023, remittances to developing nations totaled nearly $670 billion, which significantly surpassed the $223 billion in official development aid (ODA) given that year. To put it simply, migrants sending money back home provide more financial support to their countries than all foreign aid budgets combined. These private funds directly reach families and are often used more efficiently at the household level. Remittances also tend to be stable or even counter-cyclical. During economic downturns or crises, migrants often send more money to help their struggling families, making remittances a reliable lifeline. This was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many overseas workers tightened their own belts to send extra support home after local incomes collapsed. The reliability and size of remittances mean they play a pivotal role in sustaining education: when times get tough, it’s often remittance money that keeps a child in school by covering that term’s fees or buying needed supplies.

Crucially, studies have found that remittances directly improve educational outcomes. When families have a bit more income stability thanks to money from abroad, they invest in their children’s schooling. Research covering 122 developing countries found that a 10% increase in per capita remittances led to a 3.5% rise in pre-primary school enrollment, a 0.7% increase in secondary enrollment, and a 1.1% rise in tertiary (university) enrollment. In other words, more remittances often translate into more kids going to school and staying in school longer. Similar findings have been reported in countries from Pakistan and Ghana to El Salvador. In Nepal, for example, household surveys show that families receiving remittances spend significantly more on education (and also on nutritious food for their children) while spending less on things like alcohol and tobacco. The infusion of extra funds essentially helps parents prioritize and afford the costs of education that they otherwise might have had to sacrifice.

Interestingly, remittances can also promote greater gender equality in education. There is evidence that these funds have an especially positive effect on girls’ education. When a mother or father abroad sends money home, it often ensures that daughters, not just sons, get to attend school. In fact, remittances have been found to significantly boost girls’ enrollment and completion rates in school, narrowing the gender gap. This may be because additional resources ease the financial pressure that sometimes leads families to favor boys’ education, or because mothers (who are frequently the ones receiving and managing remittances) are likely to invest in their daughters’ futures. Whatever the reason, the outcome is heartening: money sent home empowers families to educate all their children. Over time, this contributes to more women going on to higher education and entering skilled professions, creating a ripple effect of positive change in communities.

Supporting Education: Communities, Families, and Financial Services

World Teachers’ Day not only applauds the teachers in the classroom, but also the broader network of support that enables education. Teachers often say they cannot do it alone; they need supportive parents, engaged communities, and adequate resources. The stories behind many students’ success often include a parent working overtime or a sibling sending money from abroad to pay school expenses. Remittances are a beautiful example of how family and community support cross borders to uplift education. A brother working in Europe might finance his younger siblings’ schooling in Ghana, or a mother in the United States might send money back to the Philippines to ensure her children can attend a good school. These acts of sacrifice and love underpin countless educational journeys.

At the same time, local communities are vital. In some areas, communities have organized scholarship funds, built school facilities with collective funds, or lobbied authorities for fee waivers. They recognize that a well-educated child eventually benefits the whole community. Remittance money often flows into these efforts too; for instance, diaspora groups from a certain village may pool funds to improve the village school. This synergy between teachers, families, and community supporters creates a powerful engine for educational progress. It echoes the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” In the context of education, one might say it takes a village, and sometimes that village spans continents to educate a child.

Financial services also play a part in facilitating this support. Today, it’s easier than ever to send money across the world, which means help can get to where it’s needed for education quickly. We at sendvalu enable migrants to send funds home efficiently, often at lower cost, so that more of their hard-earned money reaches their family for things like school fees. At sendvalu, we often see customers explicitly noting that the money is for a child’s tuition or a relative’s school needs. We take pride in knowing that our service can help keep a student’s dreams alive by making sure they have the fees or books they require. In a very real sense, every person who sends money home to pay for a child’s education is a silent partner in the teaching process, empowering both the student and the teacher, who can now teach an eager, supported pupil.

Celebrating Teachers and Looking Ahead

On this World Teachers’ Day, as we honor educators for their passion and hard work, let’s also celebrate all those who support education behind the scenes. The theme of collaboration in 2025 reminds us that education is a team effort. It involves the teacher in the classroom, the family at home, the community leaders, the policymakers, and yes, the relatives abroad sending financial support. Together, these players create the environment in which children can learn and thrive. A teacher’s impact is magnified when students come to class ready to learn, and that readiness often comes from a home where basic needs are met and education is valued. Remittances and community support help provide that foundation.

Finally, let us extend our deepest gratitude to teachers everywhere. Teaching is not an easy profession; it requires knowledge, patience, creativity, and compassion. Yet teachers continue to give generously of themselves so that the next generation can have a brighter future. They stay late to tutor struggling students, spend their own money on classroom supplies, and constantly adapt to new challenges (whether it’s remote teaching during a pandemic or accommodating diverse learning needs). Their commitment deserves not only praise but concrete support: fair salaries, continuous training, supportive school leadership, and community respect. As UNESCO and its partners have urged, we must make collective commitments to ensure teachers have the conditions they need to flourish, because when teachers thrive, students thrive, and society as a whole benefits.

In conclusion, World Teachers’ Day is a celebration of heroes, the teachers who shape minds and futures every day in every country. It’s also a celebration of the power of support, from local communities rallying around their schools to family members working abroad to finance a child’s education. Education is the passport to a better tomorrow, and teachers hand out those passports in the form of knowledge and inspiration. This October 5, let’s honor the educators who have made a difference in our lives. Let’s also recognize the many ways, big and small, we can all help support education, whether by thanking a teacher, volunteering, donating, or sending resources home. By working together and supporting one another, we ensure that teachers can do what they do best: teach. Happy World Teachers’ Day to all the teachers, and here’s to a future where every child, everywhere, can go to school and learn, supported by a world that truly values education.

Wherever teachers inspire and students dream, support for education travels across borders. Discover how families stay connected worldwide.

Sources:

UNESCO – World Teachers’ Day

We Are Teachers – World Teachers’ Day 2025: A Day for Recognition and Support

UNESCO – Global report on teachers: What you need to know

Human Rights Watch – Strengthening the Right to Free Education

African Media Agency – Remittances Play a Defining Role in Binding Migrants to Their Families Back Home

UNICEF Innocenti – Remittances and children. Exploring the critical importance of sending money home