Australia celebrates World Teachers’ Day

Most countries around the world celebrate World Teachers’ Day on October 5, when much of Australia is enjoying the school holiday period. Because of this, in Australia, World Teachers’ Day is celebrated on the last Friday of October instead.

World Teachers’ Day was established in 1994 by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to recognise the vital role of qualified teachers in our society.

In 2019, World Teachers’ Day celebrates teachers with the UNESCO theme, “Young Teachers: The future of the Profession.” The day provides the occasion to celebrate the teaching profession worldwide, to take stock of achievements, and to address some of the issues central for attracting and keeping the brightest minds and young talents in the profession – a particularly pertinent issue for early childhood education and care (ECEC). 

World Teachers’ Day recognises the high quality of early childhood teachers, teachers, casual relief teachers, principals and early childhood leaders, and the significant contributions they make in classrooms and communities.

On World Teachers’ Day, those who are working in early childhood are encouraged to celebrate by acknowledging their own work in education, or the work of their colleagues. 

Those with examples of outstanding work in their early childhood settings are also asked to consider showcasing it on the Victorian Institute of Teaching’s Excellence in Teaching page by emailing their example and contact details to [email protected]. 

Readers can get involved in the Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership’s (AITSL) World Teachers’ Day campaign, which includes an interactive map with ‘meet the teacher’ profiles, a #brightfuture social media selfie campaign and print out posters, a live Q&A session with AITSL’s Chair called #HattieChat, and registrations for the My Induction App.

Further suggestions for acknowledging World Teacher’s Day include; 

• organising events that celebrate young teachers.
• Gathering positive feedback from children can be especially meaningful for teachers – children could sign a card for their teacher, or even come up with an appropriate award to present to them.

For more information about World Teachers’ Day, please see here.