World Teachers’ Day 2025: Why it is observed on Oct 5 — theme, history and significance
World Teachers’ Day is celebrated on October 5 to commemorate the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. This landmark document set global standards for teachers’ rights, responsibilities, and working conditions, making October 5 a symbolic date to honour the teaching profession worldwide.
World Teachers’ Day is observed every year on October 5 to honour teachers and to reflect on the support and conditions they need to do their work well. The date is recognised and observed formally by UNESCO and its partners, and celebrations or commemorations take place in more than a hundred countries each year.
The day is celebrated through events across ministries of education in countries, school-level activities, conferences and social media campaigns that spotlight teachers’ roles and needs.
When and how it began: October 5 and the 1966 recommendation The reason October 5 was chosen is institutional and symbolic: the day commemorates the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, a joint international instrument that set global benchmarks on teachers’ rights and responsibilities, teacher preparation, recruitment, working conditions and further education.