International Day of Education 2024: It is said that Education is a human right, a public good, and a public responsibility. International Day of Education is celebrated on 24 January to raise awareness about the importance, the role of education for peace and development. If a country wants to achieve gender equality, and break the cycle of poverty, it is possible with inclusive, equitable quality education, and lifelong opportunities for all.
According to UNESCO, around 258 million children and youth still do not attend school, and 617 million children and adolescents cannot read or do basic math. Also, less than 40% of girls in Sub-Saharan Africa complete lower secondary school, and around 4 million children and youth refugees are out of school. Their right to education is being violated.
International Day of Education 2024: Theme
The fifth International Day of Education will be celebrated on 24 January 2024 under the theme “to invest in people, prioritize education”. UNESCO is dedicating this year’s International Day to girls and women in Afghanistan who have been deprived of their right to education. It is calling for the immediate lifting of the ban restricting their access to education.
International Day of Education 2024: History
In 2018, United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming 24 January as the International Day of Education to mark the importance of education in global peace and development. The resolution was authored by 59 member states to mark the International Day of Education. It also illustrates the process to reinforce the transformative actions for equality, quality, and inclusive education to all.
International Day of Education 2024: Objectives
As per UNESCO, objectives are as follows:
- Focusses on essential triggers of transformations to build more equitable and inclusive education systems. It will accelerate progress towards SDG4.
- Scaling advances towards digital inclusion, green competencies, skills, and gender equality.
- Reduce the gap in inequalities in access and completion of education, in line with SDG4.
- Find out the voices of students and spotlight them to know about the changes and innovations they want to see to make their education fitter for purpose.
- Also, spotlight the voices of teachers from integrating technology in their practice to orienting teaching and learning new skills, etc.