International Day of Education

What Is the International Day of Education?

January 24 is the International Day of Education. On December 3, 2018, the UN General Assembly proclaimed January 24 as the International Day of Education in resolution 73/25. The day celebrates the role of education for peace and development.

Education Is a Human Right

The United Nations describes education as a human right, a public good, and a public responsibility.

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights: The right to education is enshrined in Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which calls for free and compulsory elementary education.
• Convention on the Rights of the Child: Adopted in 1989, the Convention goes further, stipulating that countries shall make higher education accessible to all.
• Sustainable Development Goals: When the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted in September 2015, education was recognized as essential for the success of all 17 goals. Goal 4 in particular aims to "ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all."

Children Who Cannot Go to School

According to the background section of the UN's page on the day, about 244 million children and adolescents around the world are out of school, and 617 million children and adolescents cannot read and do basic math. In sub-Saharan Africa, less than 40% of girls complete lower secondary school, and some four million children and youth refugees are out of school.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Reflect on the education and learning opportunities you have had
• Choose one thing you want to learn this year, such as a new qualification or language
• Look up this year's International Day of Education theme on the UN website
• Learn about efforts to support education for children around the world

A Day to Think About the Value of Learning

Many children around the world still cannot receive the education we often take for granted. The International Day of Education on January 24 is a day to think again about the role education plays in peace and development. Why not also take a moment today to think about your own learning?