The World Teachers’ Day was observed in Bangladesh on 5 October 2016 dedicated to ‘Valuing Teachers, improving their Status’ to highlight the need for teachers’ professional development in line with the global move for quality education and quality teaching, their status, benefits and their role in achieving the SDG4, and to mark the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendations concerning the Status of Teachers. The Day was organized jointly by the Teacher Association, Dhaka University, UNICEF, ILO, Institute for Human Development, Save the Children, Action Aid Bangladesh, National Forum for Teacher Education, Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE) and UNESCO Dhaka Office.

With the support of Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE), the UNESCO global poster was produced in Bangla and disseminated among teachers’ associations and more than 200 member organizations as well as the participants to the celebratory meeting at Dhaka University.  

World Teachers’ Day 2016 celebration started with a rally with participation of GOs, NGOs, INGOs, Teachers, Students and other stakeholders starting from the Central Shahid Minar. Placards displayed messages based on the theme of WTD 2016 to promote teachers’ motivation, recruitment, professional development and their empowerment.

After the rally, more than 200 participants came together at the auditorium of the Teacher Student Center of Dhaka University to attend a celebratory discussion and sharing of ideas under the theme of ‘Valuing Teachers, improving their Status’.

The discussion was presided over by HE Mr. Nurul Islam Nahid MP, Minister of Education as Chief Guest, Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique, Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University as host and Ms. Beatrice Kaldun, Head and Representative of UNESCO Dhaka Office, and Ms Rasheda K. Chowdhury, Vice President, Global Campaign for Education as Guest of Honor. The joint UN message for WTD 2016 was read out, all guests, event organizers, prominent educators as well as teachers shared experiences, thoughts and ideas on the theme of the day including also emphasis on the need to implement the UNESCO/ILO Recommendations concerning the Status of Teachers and the importance to develop a teacher policy framework in line with the Education Policy 2010. HE Mr. Nurul Islam Nahid MP, Minister of Education, concluded the event emphasizing the celebration of World Teachers Day encourages our teachers to realize their worth, their important role and responsibility in ensuring quality education.

The event also acknowledged the contribution of four prominent educators in the education sector in Bangladesh by giving them awards - Professor Rehman Sobhan, Chairman, Centre for Policy Dialogue, Professor Manzoor Ahmed, BRAC University, Mr. Nurul Alam Retd. Head teacher, Shibram Govt. Primary School, Gaibandha and Late Joynal Abedin Chowdhury, Secretary General, Bangladesh Teachers Association (BTA).