A group of girls walking to school in Zanzibar
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International Day of Education

As we celebrate International Day of Education this year, we need to remember the role education plays in our daily lives. Under the theme, “Changing Course, Transforming Education.” The celebration, led by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), aims 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 future.

The role education plays is to not only develop a country’s economy and society but also provide knowledge and skills to the population and shape personalities and identities. Education is a key factor in boosting success and fulfillment for human beings as it provides opportunities that create a huge impact on lives. It can build harmony and democracy in society and grow social prosperity.

Education, either formal or informal has the power to shape our thinking and help us to understand how things work, build people of integrity and help us to be more effective. As it aids in our socialisation, stability is maintained and our values and morals are boosted if we follow the right teachings and practice them too. Not forgetting young people, education in society prepares youngsters for adulthood so that they may form the next generation of leaders. One of the education essential tasks is to enable people to understand themselves.

History and role of International Day of Education
On 3 December 2018, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution (resolution 73/25) proclaiming 24 January as the International Day of Education, in celebration of the role of education in peace and development.

The right to education is enshrined in article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The declaration calls for free and compulsory elementary education. The Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted in 1989, goes further to stipulate that countries shall make higher education accessible to all.

When it adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in September 2015, the international community recognized that education is essential for the success of all 17 of its goals. Sustainable Development Goal 4, in particular, aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” by 2030.

International Day of Education aims to generate debate around how to strengthen education as a public endeavour and common good, how to steer the digital transformation, support teachers, safeguard the planet and unlock the potential in every person to contribute to collective well-being and our shared home.