The status of teachers shapes the future of societies

The recognition and support of teachers are based on achievements that must be acknowledged and consolidated. Since the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation, the international community has had common benchmarks regarding teachers’ rights, training and working conditions. In several countries, pay rises have also reflected greater material recognition of their work. These advances underscore a collective responsibility: to guarantee those who educate future generations the conditions necessary for them to fulfil their mission.

Pay rises have improved teachers’ purchasing power where they have outpaced inflation. However, these gains remain uneven and are not sufficient to resolve professional challenges: excessive workloads, insufficient teaching resources, limited access to training and low levels of involvement in decision-making. The responsibilities entrusted to teachers are expanding, whilst the resources available to them are not keeping pace everywhere. This mismatch undermines the attractiveness of the profession and the ability of education systems to guarantee high-quality learning.

The World Association for Development believes that the enhancement of the profession must be measured by tangible changes in teachers’ lives: being able to earn a decent living from their work, working in safe conditions, developing their skills and contributing to educational decisions. This requirement must guide policies backed by long-term funding, particularly in the most underserved areas. Improving teachers’ conditions means giving education the means to support personal autonomy, equal opportunities and the sustainable development of societies.

World Teachers’ Day

5 October 2026

 

Executive President

Hugues B. GNIMADI

World Association for Development — AMD
Let us work towards the progress of peoples and communities