Islamabad, World Teachers’ Day 2011 is being celebrated today on October 5, across the country. People are celebrating this day to pay tribute to the teachers, for their unique contributions in educating the generations, ensuring their services for the progress of society. Since 1994 World Teachers’ Day is celebrated on October 5.

The day will be observed under the theme ‘Teachers for Gender Equality’ which would call for more equal working conditions and education that works for both girls and boys. Different public and private organizations and educational institutions are going to arrange seminars, conferences, walks and functions to celebrate the day in appropriate manner, highlighting the untiring contributions of the teachers.

Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) has planned to arrange a function to mark World Teachers Day at National Library of Pakistan today. The event is being organized in collaboration with UNICEF and UNESCO with participation of teachers and educationist.  Junaid Iqbal, Secretary Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) will be chief guest on the occasion.

It is an occasion for all the education related departments to celebrate the profession and to promote international standards for the teaching profession. Despite the teaching profession being made up largely of women, inequality remains an issue. The teaching profession, both men and women, must unite and urge governments to implement their commitments.  The day would focus on the need to ensure the element of equality into the policies and constitutions, for millions of female teachers, the goals remain unfulfilled.

According to UNESCO, World Teachers’ Day represents a significant mark of the awareness, understanding and appreciation displayed for the dynamic contribution that teachers make to education and development.

Education International (EI) (the global union federation that represents education professionals worldwide) strongly believes that World Teachers’ Day should be internationally recognized and celebrated around the world. EI also believes that the principles of the 1966 and 1997 Recommendations should be considered for implementation in all nations.

Over 100 countries celebrate World Teachers’ Day. The efforts of Education International and its 401 member organizations have contributed to this widely spread recognition. EI promotes a public awareness campaign to focus the contributions of the teaching profession every year.

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