Teachers across Nigeria joined their counterparts around the world to mark World Teachers’ Day 2026, as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), International Labour Organisation (ILO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Education International called for stronger professional support, better working conditions and enhanced status for educators.

In a joint message to commemorate the event, the four organisations called on governments and partners to stand with teachers by advancing the status of the teaching profession and empowering every tutor to contribute to more inclusive, peaceful and sustainable societies.

According to the organisations, every learner deserves a teacher who is well prepared, well supported and empowered to thrive in the profession, stressing that the way societies value teachers reflects the value they place on future generations.

The organisations identified quality initial teacher education, continuous professional learning and safe and supportive working environments among the conditions required for teachers to perform effectively.

They also called for greater trust in teachers’ professional judgement, and meaningful participation of their experience in shaping education policy through social dialogue.

The urgency of strengthening the profession is underscored by the projected global teacher shortage.

The joint message noted that the world is expected to need 50 million additional teachers by 2030, including 44 million teachers required to achieve universal primary and secondary education, and another six million for pre-primary education.

But recruiting more teachers, the organisations stressed, is only part of the challenge.

Retaining experienced teachers and ensuring that teaching provides motivating, rewarding and sustainable career pathways are equally important.

They also highlighted the need to create opportunities for female teachers to assume leadership positions and advance gender equality within and through the teaching profession.

The global organisations further argued that protecting and promoting the status of teachers requires concrete action rather than mere recognition of the importance of the profession.

Such action, they said, should be reflected in the resources invested in schools and teachers, the quality of teachers’ working conditions and the confidence placed in their professional judgement.

The organisations said governments have a central responsibility in achieving this, while working alongside employers, teacher organisations, teacher education institutions, communities and international partners.

“Teachers now operate in a world shaped by rapid technological change, including artificial intelligence, as well as climate change, conflict, displacement, persistent inequalities and increasingly diverse learning environments. As a result, teachers are being asked to do more than impart knowledge and skills. They are increasingly expected to foster critical thinking, inclusion, resilience, lifelong learning and responsible citizenship.” The organisations therefore, stressed that the profession must evolve alongside the transformation of education, with teachers empowered not only to adapt to change, but also to help shape the future of education.

Importantly, the message cautioned against allowing technological transformation to diminish the human dimension of education.

It called for the teacher-student relationship to remain a strong foundation of education while preserving the essential role of socialisation and human interaction in learning.

They concluded with a call to action for governments and their partners to stand with educators by advancing the status of the profession and ensuring that every teacher is empowered to help build more inclusive, peaceful and sustainable societies.