Every year, October 5 is celebrated as World Teachers’ Day across the world to commemorate the work of educators. This year, the theme for the international day is ‘Teachers: leading in crisis, reimagining the future’ highlighting the work done by educators when all educational institutes were closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic situation.

According to the UNESCO, the coronavirus pandemic has directly affected 1.6 billion learners with more than 90 percent of the world’s total enrolled student population. It has also affected 63 million primary and secondary teachers.

Do you remember your favourite teacher?

On Monday’s #WorldTeachersDay, let’s celebrate teachers around the world & all they do for our communities & societies, especially amid #COVID19. https://t.co/cZpBCTtxVx pic.twitter.com/hXlE34AVfj

— United Nations (@UN) October 5, 2020

The World Teachers’ Day, which is held every year, since 1994, commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. This Recommendation sets benchmarks regarding the rights and responsibilities of teachers and standards for their initial preparation and further education, recruitment, employment, and teaching and learning conditions.

In a joint statement, Audrey Azoulay, director-general of UNESCO, Guy Ryder, director-general, International Labour Organization, and Henrietta H. Fore, executive director, UNICEF, and David Edwards, general secretary, Education Internation said, “In this crisis, teachers have shown, as they have done so often, great leadership and innovation in ensuring that #LearningNeverStops, that no learner is left behind. Around the world, they have worked individually and collectively to find solutions and create new learning environments for their students to allow education to continue. Their role advising on school reopening plans and supporting students with the return to school is just as important.”

As per the UNESCO official website, “The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly added to the challenges faced by already over-extended education systems throughout the world. It is no exaggeration to say that the world is at a crossroads and, now more than ever, we must work with teachers to protect the right to education and guide it into the unfolding landscape brought about by the pandemic.”

Read: Teachers’ Day: Keeping up with online classes in the COVID-19 era

Also read: Teacher education – Maya Menon

Also read: Online classes amidst coronavirus outbreak