International Day of Education: A Global Commitment to Learning and Progress
International Day of Education, observed annually on January 24th, serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative role education plays in building sustainable and resilient societies. Proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on December 3, 2018, and first celebrated in 2019, this day underscores the importance of education as a fundamental human right, a public good, and a collective responsibility.
The Genesis of a Global Observance
The impetus for establishing International Day of Education stemmed from a growing recognition within the international community of education's pivotal role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Spearheaded by the permanent missions of Ireland, Nigeria, Norway, Qatar, and Singapore, in collaboration with UNESCO, the resolution to designate January 24th as International Day of Education was adopted by the UNGA to mobilize political will, generate resources, and draw attention to the indispensable role of education in fostering knowledgeable and sustainable communities.
Why an Education Day?
UNESCO succinctly states that "Education is a human right, a public good and a collective responsibility". Assigning a specific day to education highlights that without quality, inclusive and equitable education for all and lifelong learning opportunities, countries will not achieve gender equality or break the cycle of poverty that leaves millions of children, youth and adults behind. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights enshrines education as a human right, and it is also one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) essential to the success of the entire 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Despite this, at present, 258 million children and young people are out of school, with education (along with health and protection) being precisely the three basic rights that all children should have. Three times the number of children and young people out of school, 781 million, is the number of illiterate adults in the world, whose “right to education is being violated and is unacceptable,” says UNESCO, according to data from the organization itself. Almost two thirds of this figure are women.
The Significance of Education in a Changing World
Education is more than just a basic human right - it’s a cornerstone of personal development, economic growth, and societal progress. It offers children a ladder out of poverty and a path to a promising future. When the international community adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in September 2015, it recognized that education is essential for the success of all 17 of its goals.
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Education plays a pivotal role in creating a sustainable future by addressing global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and climate change. Education transforms lives, creates opportunities, and builds stronger communities.
The Ongoing Crisis in Education
Despite the global commitment to education, significant challenges remain. According to estimates from UNESCO, 251 million children are out of school worldwide. But about 244 million children and adolescents around the world are out of 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. There is a strong disparity between high-income and low-income countries. The 2024 Education Finance Watch report found that although education spending is rising in many low-income countries, it is still not enough to provide adequate education services to students.
Extended time out of school has a drastic impact on children’s health, safety and future life choices. At the end of 2021, up to 1 in 5 children in some countries had dropped out of school because of rising poverty, child marriage and child labor, pressures exacerbated by the pandemic. To address this learning gap, Save the Children supports Catch-up Clubs throughout many of our global programs.
Attacks on Education
In 2025, six years after the first observance of the International Day to Protect Education from Attack, violence against education continues to escalate. Between 2022 and 2023, there were around 6,000 attacks targeting students, educators, and educational institutions. Attacks on education in conflict zones have reached alarming levels. Over the past year, there was a 44% increase in attacks on schools, leading to the death, abduction, and trauma of thousands of students and teachers.
The UN Secretary-General's Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict for the year 2024 presents a harrowing account of the violence endured by children in conflict zones. Most grave violations showed an increase in 2024, including attacks on schools (44%), and rape and other forms of sexual violence (34 %). Children in conflict zones face devastating consequences, as urban warfare has turned homes into battlegrounds. The presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance continues to endanger entire communities, with children being especially vulnerable. In addition, over 3,000 children were detained due to their real or alleged involvement with armed groups, marking an increase from the previous year.
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The day was established by a unanimous decision of the UN General Assembly, calling on UNESCO and UNICEF to raise awareness of the plight of millions of children living in countries affected by conflict. The General Assembly resolution affirms that governments have the primary responsibility to provide protection and ensure inclusive and equitable quality education at all levels to all learners, especially those in vulnerable situations. UNESCO and UNICEF will facilitate the annual observance of the Day in close collaboration with partners within and outside the UN system. The Safe Schools Declaration was opened for state endorsement in Oslo, Norway, in May 2015.
The Rise of Digital Education
Within education, digital education is shown to be the most significant disruption in the last two decades to help bridge the education gap. Digital education is arguably key to improving or even transforming the learning of the future, an opportunity that cannot be missed for the power and strength of the digital revolution to help the underprivileged. The review of the necessary competencies required by the new generations passes through a digital vision, where the technological is central. However, an inclusive approach is required for our societies to evolve towards a significant reduction in the educational and, therefore, socioeconomic and cultural gap.
In 2016, the Telefónica Foundation and the “la Caixa” Foundation launched ProFuturo, a digital education program to reduce the education gap by improving the conditions of millions of children from vulnerable backgrounds on different continents. Specifically, by 2023, the initiative had helped transform education by providing the resources needed to change the lives of more than 28 million beneficiaries (as well as almost 1.5 million teachers) in more than forty countries. With regard to the future of education, ProFuturo points out some of the issues that will have a special impact on education in 2024. Some of them have a strong technological implication, such as the development and relationship of artificial intelligence with education or the huge emergence of digital content and how to address them and get the most out of them without compromising the quality of educational materials. But always a transformation of schools and teachers as a priority, through continuous training, to make the potential “revolution” of digital technologies in this sector a reality.
International Day of Education 2025: AI and Education
The 2025 International Day of Education inspires reflections on the power of education to equip individuals and communities navigate, understand and influence technological advancement. This year the focus is "AI and Education: Preserving Agency in a World of Automation.” Digital technologies are permeating education at unprecedented speed and scale. The possibilities of using digital solutions to enhance teaching and learning, and to revolutionize educational processes bring opportunities and challenges. On #EducationDay, we explore how countries can leverage digital solutions to build equitable, relevant, and resilient education systems with a positive impact on learning outcomes.
Taking Action on International Day of Education
There are many ways to recognise and contribute to the goals of International Day of Education. This International Day of Education, talk to your kids about what makes education so important. Explain that in many parts of the world, children do not have access to high-quality education. UNESCO’s “SDG Resources for Educators” features lesson ideas and videos centered around this topic. To tie things back to this year’s theme, talk to your child about the advantages and disadvantages of AI tools. You can also think about ways to advocate for education within your community. Are there local education-focused initiatives you can donate to or spread the word about?
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