World Teachers’ Day 2021: when is it, why it’s celebrated - and quotes to wish a happy teachers’ day

World Teachers’ Day is held annually to celebrate those who work in education all around the globe.

And after many months of disruption which saw millions of teachers forced to swap the classroom for zoom lessons due to the Covid-19 pandemic, now is the perfect time to say thank you to staff for keeping learning going.

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Here’s everything you need to know about the day and how to celebrate.

When is World Teachers’ Day?

World Teachers’ Day is celebrated worldwide on 5 October.

The day is a UNESCO day of observance which was first held on 5 October 1994, and has been marked on the same date every year since.

It was introduced to highlight the contributions and achievements of education workers around the world, as well as drawing attention to teachers’ objectives in their work.

It commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, which sets benchmarks regarding the rights and responsibilities of teachers, and standards for their further education, recruitment, employment, and teaching and learning conditions.

The day also aims to shed light on teachers’ working conditions and job prospects around the world.

What is the theme this year?

The theme of World Teachers’ Day 2021 is ‘Teachers at the heart of education recovery’.

It aims to recognise the tireless efforts of teachers to keep lessons going and ensure minimal disruption to pupils’ learning over the course of the pandemic.

The day will focus on the support that teachers require to be able to fully recover from the health crisis, which saw schools forced to close for several months.

World Teachers’ Day quotes and wishes

If you would like to wish someone a happy World Teachers’ Day this year, here are some quotes and posts to share in celebration.

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