Teachers are guides, role models and facilitators of change. They nurture students’ curiosity, help instil a sense of values, and inspire students to realize their full potential. From the time students enter school, teachers play an important role in the intellectual and emotional development of young people.
Teachers are the architects of the future State and the lives of young people. They provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to adapt to the rapidly changing world. By fostering critical thinking and encouraging creativity, teachers lay the educational foundation for a better and more informed society.
In recognition of the noble contributions of teachers around the world, 5 October has been designated and commemorated as World Teachers’ Day. The day commemorates 5 October 1966, when the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. Since 1994, 5 October has been observed annually as World Teachers’ Day. The World Teachers’ Day theme for 2026 is “Standing with teachers: 60 years of protecting the profession, advancing its status and shaping our futures.”
In Myanmar as well, World Teachers’ Day, observed annually on 5 October, honours the support and assistance provided by teachers around the world and recognizes the importance and indispensable role of quality education in shaping future generations. It also highlights teachers’ working conditions, workplace rights and the challenges they face. World Teachers’ Day provides an opportunity for societies to review their education systems, set goals for improvement, and take measures to ensure that all students have access to quality education.
Teachers play a very important role in educating and training the younger generation who will shape and build the nation’s future. They are responsible for nurturing in young people a love for their country and a sense of patriotism; encouraging them to respect and comply with social ethics, laws, rules and regulations; helping them develop good moral character and become honest and upright individuals; and fostering a spirit of contributing to the well-being of society.
The objectives of observing World Teachers’ Day are to highlight the invaluable role of teachers in nurturing human resources, which are fundamental to the development and progress of countries around the world; to recognize and honour the qualifications, professional ethics, dignity and contributions of teachers; and to promote the emergence of good and dedicated teachers around the world who can shape future generations of outstanding citizens needed by society in the present and future.
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