This weekend, teachers around the world are partying as World Teachers' Day is celebrated . Thanks to the drive and powerful convening capacity of Education International, this date was established in conjunction with UNESCO to reflect and honor the work of thousands of teachers, throughout the five continents. Education International is the voice of teachers and other education workers around the world. It is a federation of almost 400 trade union associations and institutions in more than 170 countries and territories and represents 30 million educators, from nursery schools to universities. This year, the motto of World Teachers' Day is "A call to teachers", through which it is proposed to direct attention to the current situation of the teaching profession, a self-critical and reflective look regarding educational work in these times, marked by technological advances, social changes and the deep levels of poverty in various societies. For the good teacher, all these situations constitute a challenge for which they need to be properly prepared.
Since 1994, World Teachers' Day is celebrated every October 5 , date instituted by UNESCO , where in addition to paying tribute to the work of teachers, it seeks to make society aware of the importance of the role they play in building a better future, based on ethical and moral values.
“A call to teaching” is the motto established for this year by UNESCO and its associates, to share among the more than 100 countries and their 348 organizations the celebration of this special date that reflects the appreciation that educators develop. The motto also makes a special call to classroom teachers who mark the path of education every day and who, together with the authorities, must worry about having permanent training that helps them to be more motivated and more competent.
Currently, we have a huge teacher deficit, as indicated by alarming statistics from UNESCO , who point out that, in order to achieve the goal of providing universal primary education, some 10.3 million teachers will have to be hired by 2015. And this only refers to the number, but does not take into account the quality of teacher training. teachers.
Around 57 million children of primary school age are out of school and 54 per cent of this number are girls. Annual teacher shortages occur mostly in Africa, Asia, and South America.
Currently, we are at a time when the economic recession threatens the budgets of countries worldwide, but it is essential that governments support the hiring, training and development of teachers, without neglecting the improvements in salary policies and labor rights that the sector needs.
Education must be in the hands of teachers who need to have the ability to get students to develop skills, to be trained as responsible citizens, committed to global development and capable of to use technology in favor of humanity, respecting the rights of human beings and looking after the environment, health and equality.