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For the first time ever, the official event marking World Teachers’ Day is not held at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris but is hosted by the African Union in the framework of the Pan-African Conference on Teacher Education (PACTED) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on October 3rd.

In addition to the World Teachers’ Day celebration, PACTED also marks the launch of a new Continental Education Strategy for Africa and the African Decade for Education. Together, these important events demonstrate a renewed continental and global commitment to prioritising education and the teaching profession as drivers of sustainable development.

Headed by EI President Mugwena Maluleke, a strong delegation of union leaders from across the continent is the voice of teachers at the Conference, bringing the profession’s insights and recommendations to leaders gathered in Addis Ababa.

Speaking at the Conference opening ceremony, President Maluleke articulated the profession’s vision: “We commit fiercely, unapologetically to every child’s right to learn. We commit to holding governments accountable. We commit to defending our profession, its quality, its dignity, its soul. The United Nations Recommendations on the Teaching Profession are our compass. They are clear: Teachers must shape curricula, pedagogy, policy. Teachers must shape the future. Transformation demands more than consultation. It demands co-creation. Teachers as equal partners.”

With 118 million children out of school and an acute teacher shortage affecting education across the continent, the region demands immediate and decisive action to fully fund public education and invest in teachers.

"On World Teachers’ Day, we gather to honour those who shape destinies. Students craft tributes, communities rally in appreciation, and educators inspire each generation to dream bigger than the barriers they face. Yet celebration alone is not enough”, Maluleke noted during the official World Teachers’ Day ceremony.

“We need action. Governments must invest, unions must be heard, and social dialogue must flourish. We demand fair pay, secure contracts, robust initial training, continuous professional development, and safe working conditions. We demand that teachers shape the future they are entrusted to build”, the EI President stressed.

EI calls for an Africa Summit on the Teaching Profession

Speaking at PACTED, EI General Secretary David Edwards stressed the central role of social dialogue to a sustainable, effective, inclusive and future-looking education system: “The mechanism of social dialogue must be institutionalized across Africa to translate the wisdom and insights of teachers and their unions into policy and practice.”

To implement this vision of transformation through dialogue, Edwards proposed the creation of an Africa Summit on the Teaching Profession where education unions and Ministers of Education from across the continent come together, share insights and co-design policy.

50 million teachers wanted: Global teachers shortage remains critical

The global teacher shortage continues to be the main challenge for the profession, with Africa facing the most acute crisis. Of the 50 million teachers needed worldwide, 15 million are needed in Sub-Saharan Africa alone.

Mariama Chipkaou, Education International Africa President, explained: “Each student, wherever they live, should have a qualified teacher, every day and every lesson. But severe underfunding has led to teachers becoming overworked, underpaid, and undervalued. Because of this, we are witnessing an exodus from our profession. Resignation rates are on the rise and the attrition rates among our new teachers are reaching unprecedented levels. We are also seeing a steep decline in the number of people who want to become teachers.”

Through its Go Public! Fund Education campaign, Education International and its member organisations have been mobilising to build global momentum and support for public education and the teaching profession. Thanks to these efforts, the teacher shortage is now a priority.

From recommendations to action

Education union leaders are advocating for governments across Africa and the world to implement the 59 United Nations Recommendations – a blueprint to end the global teacher shortage and strengthen the profession.

The EI delegation also supports the Santiago Consensus adopted by the World Summit on Teachers which took place in August in Chile. The Santiago Consensus calls for investment in the profession, social dialogue with education unions, and is the first ever international agreement that recognises the teacher-student relationship as common heritage of humanity.

“The global shortage of 50 million teachers is putting the right to education at risk. There are no shortcuts or technological fixes to this situation. Education is relational, not transactional. We urgently need more colleagues in the teaching profession and for that to happen, governments must stand with teachers and invest in teachers”, stressed David Edwards, Education International General Secretary.

Join the mobilisation: Together for teachers, together for tomorrow

This World Teachers’ Day, join the global mobilisation calling on governments everywhere to invest in teachers and to support us in creating a peaceful, more fair, and sustainable future for all.

Click here for the communications toolkit featuring the World Teachers’ Day poster, social media posts, and visuals.