Celebrating International Day of Education
January 24, 2023 is the fifth annual International Day of Education.
This day of observance was established in 2018 by the United Nations General Assembly to celebrate the role that education plays in creating a better world. It has been observed every 24th of January from 2019 onward.
In honor of International Day of Education, let’s take a closer look at the importance of bringing equitable, quality education to all.
How does education benefit communities worldwide?
Education plays an important role in the UN’s mission of building sustainable and resilient societies across the globe. In 2015, the UN adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This agenda laid out numerous Sustainable Development Goals, one of which is to make quality education available to all.
Education helps individuals gain the knowledge and skills needed to tackle important societal challenges, such as:
- Improving health outcomes
- Eliminating poverty
- Promoting gender equality
- Improving environmental sustainability
- Enhancing international cooperation
On a smaller scale, education enables individuals to create a better life for themselves. It allows them to get jobs, increase their economic security, and stay healthy.
What’s the current state of global education?
Education is a human right. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights—a milestone document drafted by the UN in 1948—states that elementary education should be free and compulsory.
However, millions of children today still do not have access to education.
According to estimates from UNESCO, 244 million children are out of school worldwide. Sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the most children and youth not attending school, but there are also significant out-of-school rates in Central and Southern Asia. Many existing disparities in education were made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic, and children across the world are still feeling the effects of having missed out on so much schooling.
How to observe International Day of Education 2023
As stated on the UNESCO website, the theme for this year’s International Day of Education is “to invest in people, prioritize education.”
This International Day of Education, take some time to read up on global education facts and statistics. The UN’s page on Sustainable Development Goal 4 – Quality Education is a great place to start. For our teachers—check out the UN’s SDG Resources for Educators.
You can also think about ways to prioritize education within your community. Are there local education-focused initiatives you can donate to or spread the word about? Are there opportunities for you to get more involved with your child’s school?
At BASIS Charter Schools, we are committed to raising the standards of student learning to the highest international levels. Our public charter schools are completely free to attend and open to all.
The BASIS Charter Schools network is made up of 37 schools across Arizona, Louisiana, Texas, and Washington, D.C. To learn more, find a school near you and schedule a tour today.
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