International Education Day 2022: Why is it celebrated? History, theme

NEW DELHI: International Education Day 2022 is observed on January 24 every year since 2019. On December 3, 2018, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming January 24 as International Day of Education, in celebration of the role of education in bringing global peace and sustainable development.

International Day of Education was first celebrated on January 24, 2019. Every year, International Education Day is celebrated with a unique theme.

Also read | Union Budget 2022: Need to raise budget for girls’ education, says women’s group

International Day of Education 2022: Theme

On this occasion, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization said, “We will be celebrating the fourth International Day of Education under the theme “Changing Course, Transforming Education”. As it was detailed in UNESCO’s recent global Futures of Education report, transforming the future requires an urgent rebalancing of our relationships with each other, with nature as well as with technology that permeates our lives, bearing breakthrough opportunities while raising serious concerns for equity, inclusion and democratic participation.”

As per the data shared by UNESCO, “258 million children and youth still do not attend school; 617 million children and adolescents cannot read and do basic math; less than 40% of girls in sub-Saharan Africa complete lower secondary school and some four million children and youth refugees are out of school. Their right to education is being violated and it is unacceptable.”

Also read | State Elections 2022: How UP, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Goa have fared in education

This year’s International Day of Education will be a platform to showcase the most important transformations that have to be nurtured to realize everyone’s fundamental right to education and build a more sustainable, inclusive and peaceful futures, it said.

UN General Secretary António Guterres wrote on Twitter, “School closures continue to disrupt the lives of over 31 million students, exacerbating a global learning crisis. This #EducationDay I call on everyone to unite around education as a public good and a top political priority.”

School closures continue to disrupt the lives of over 31 million students, exacerbating a global learning crisis.

This #EducationDay I call on everyone to unite around education as a public good and a top political priority. pic.twitter.com/ckaC5czpjh

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) January 24, 2022

January 24 is also celebrated as the National Girl Child Day in India every year. The celebrations across the country are led by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.