Maureen Ugwukah

Every October 5, the world celebrates World Teachers’ Day, a day set aside to recognize the contributions of teachers to education, human development and the building of responsible societies.

The observance dates back to 1994 and commemorates the adoption, on October 5, 1966, of the ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, which established international standards relating to teachers’ rights, responsibilities, preparation, recruitment, employment and working conditions.

In 2026, World Teachers’ Day is particularly significant as it marks 60 years of the 1966 Recommendation, with the theme, “Standing with teachers: 60 years of protecting the profession, advancing its status and shaping our futures.”

In Anambra State, the occasion provides an opportunity to reflect on the important role teachers are playing in the State Government’s effort to reposition public education and make quality learning more accessible to children.

The Governor Chukwuma Soludo administration has sustained its free education policy in public schools from kindergarten through senior secondary school, helping to reduce the financial burden on families and encourage more children to remain in school.

But free education can only achieve its full purpose when there are enough qualified teachers to teach the growing number of pupils and students entering public schools. This is why teacher recruitment has remained an important part of the education reform.

According to the State Government, 8,115 teachers have been employed within a year and a half, substantially addressing the shortage of teachers in public schools. The government has also indicated its intention to deepen investment in education as part of its 2026 plans.

The recruitment of teachers is therefore more than an employment exercise. It is an investment in the future of every child who enters an Anambra classroom, because behind every successful student is a teacher who provides knowledge, guidance, discipline and encouragement.

As the State continues to expand access to education and strengthen its schools, the need for more teachers remains connected to the wider objective of ensuring that children do not merely attend school, but receive meaningful teaching and acquire the knowledge and skills required to compete in a changing world.

World Teachers’ Day, therefore, is not simply a day to celebrate teachers with words. It is a reminder that teachers deserve the support, training, tools and conducive working environment required to perform their responsibilities effectively.

For Anambra, the message is clear: investing in teachers is investing in children; investing in children is investing in human capital; and investing in human capital is investing in the future of a liveable and prosperous homeland.