On September 19 world leaders met at the United Nations and committed to transforming education everywhere. Teachers are at the heart of this transformation; they must be trusted and supported to make quality public education a reality for all students.
The leadership of teachers in transforming education is the theme of this year’s World Teachers’ Day – The Transformation of Education Begins with Teachers. Co-convened by Education International, UNESCO, the International Labour Organization, and UNICEF, World Teachers’ Day 2022 aims to highlight the work of teachers and call on governments to invest in teachers, involve teachers, trust and respect teachers.
“To truly celebrate World Teachers’ Day, we must go beyond thanking teachers. We must invest in quality public education systems. We call on governments everywhere to invest in teachers, guarantee labour rights and good working conditions, involve teachers in decision-making, and trust their pedagogical expertise. The transformation starts with teachers. We are the beating heart of education.”
David Edwards | General Secretary, Education International
Celebrate World Teachers’ Day and join the movement to transform education!
Here are a few things you can do in your union, your school, or online to celebrate World Teachers’ Day 2022.
1. Print and display this year’s poster
In your school or your union, make sure everyone knows it’s World Teachers’ Day.
📢 This #WorldTeachersDay, we call on all governments to do their part: ✅ invest in teachers ✅ involve teachers ✅ trust teachers ✅ respect teachers pic.twitter.com/G9uPhHTWIg
4. Tune in for the World Teachers’ Day event hosted by UNESCO
Our General Secretary David Edwards will bring the voice of teachers everywhere to the opening ceremony of the World Teachers’ Day event hosted by UNESCO in Paris. The event will begin at 10:00 am, Paris time, on October 5th. Watch the event live on the UNESCO website.
Other speakers include Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO; Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General of the International Labour Organization; and Catherine Russel, Executive Director of UNICEF.
Related Items
Leading the profession
26 September 2025
South-Asian education unions push for improved health, well-being, and gender equality curricula
Over 160 participants including representatives of teacher unions, governments, civil society, youth, UN agencies, and academics from South Asia and Southeast Asia gathered to share lessons, explore innovative programs, and interventions to discuss how education systems can support teachers to deliver gender-responsive, socially responsible, and stigma-free curricula, including Comprehensive Sexuality...
Standards and working conditions
24 September 2025
Education voices | Campaigning for higher education research
David Robinson
This testimony was collected as part of the research project entitled “In the eye of the storm: Higher education in an age of crises” conducted by Howard Stevenson, Maria Antonietta Vega Castillo, Melanie Bhend, and Vasiliki-Eleni Selechopoulou for Education International. The research report and executive summary are available here
.
Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4
22 September 2025
A visit with a message: Solidarity and support to IMAK and the people of Greenland
Magnus Jonsson, President of the Icelandic Teachers Federation and Education International General Secretary David Edwards, undertook a solidarity mission to Greenland from September 17 – 19, to bring support from EI members and learn about the important work of IMAK, the Greenlandic Teachers Union.
Education unions celebrate Democracy Day by mobilising and organising to defend it
Democracy is a core value of education unions around the world. On the International Day of Democracy, 15 September, education unions from Education International came together online to reaffirm their commitment to defending and advancing democracy, sharing insights into the challenges they are facing and strategising the way forward.
Education leaders call for urgent action to address global crisis in the teaching profession
World Summit on Teachers presents roadmap to address 50 global million teacher shortage and fully fund public education
SANTIAGO, CHILE – As ministers and education leaders prepare to convene for the World Summit on Teachers (WST) on 28-29 August 2025, the global teaching profession faces an unprecedented recruitment and retention crisis. The world needs 50 million more teachers by 2030 across early childhood, primary and secondary education, yet...
World Summit on Teachers: 50 million teachers are needed now. Education leaders call for action!
Santiago de Chile | 28-29 August 2025
From recommendations to action
18 months after the UN recommendations on the teaching profession, world leaders and Education International representatives gather in Santiago de Chile to confront an unprecedented crisis. Without immediate action on recruitment, retention, and genuine social dialogue, the right to education remains an empty promise.