International Day of Education - January 24, the UN day for global education

International Day of Education on January 24 is the UN International Day celebrating education as a fundamental human right and global public good. Established by UN General Assembly Resolution 73/25 in December 2018 and coordinated by UNESCO, the day focuses on mobilizing political will for Sustainable Development Goal 4. Not a public holiday.

The one-line summary

UN International Day every January 24 celebrating education as a fundamental right. Adopted by UNGA Resolution 73/25 in 2018, coordinated by UNESCO. Focuses on Sustainable Development Goal 4. Not a public holiday.

Origin and history

International Day of Education was established by UN General Assembly Resolution 73/25, adopted by consensus on December 19, 2018. The resolution was led by Nigeria in partnership with 58 other UN member states, and proclaimed January 24 as the annual observance. The resolution explicitly recognized education\'s role as "a fundamental human right, a public good, and a public responsibility."

The first International Day of Education was observed on January 24, 2019, with the theme "Youth and Adults with Disabilities." Subsequent themes have addressed climate education, girls and women in education, learning recovery after COVID-19, and the role of teachers. UNESCO leads the global observance, hosting flagship events at its Paris headquarters and partnering with UNICEF, the World Bank, and education ministries worldwide.

How it is observed

International Day of Education is marked by UNESCO\'s flagship event at its Paris headquarters, school and university debates and conferences, education ministry policy announcements, teacher recognition events, advocacy campaigns from organizations like the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), the UN Girls\' Education Initiative (UNGEI), and Education Cannot Wait (ECW), and corporate partnerships supporting education technology and infrastructure.

National education ministries typically publish annual reports on education statistics, host policy forums, and announce new programs aligned with SDG 4. Many schools host special assemblies or community outreach events. Universities host conferences on education research. Civil society organizations use the day to publish research and advocacy reports on specific aspects of SDG 4, including gender equity, teacher training, and education in emergencies.',

Global education crisis

According to UNESCO\'s most recent estimates, 244 million children and youth are out of school globally, including 59 million primary-age children, 62 million lower-secondary-age adolescents, and 123 million upper-secondary-age youth. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for approximately one-third of out-of-school children, with conflict-affected countries (including South Sudan, Niger, and Afghanistan) showing the worst outcomes. Progress toward universal primary education has stalled since 2015, with COVID-19 reversing prior gains.

Adult literacy remains a critical gap: 773 million adults lack basic literacy skills, two-thirds of whom are women. Gender disparities persist: in low-income countries, only 65% of girls complete primary school compared to 75% of boys. Education financing has stagnated: low-income countries spend an average of 3.4% of GDP on education, well below the UNESCO-recommended 4-6% benchmark.

Sustainable Development Goal 4

SDG 4 - "Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all" - is the global framework for education adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda. It has ten targets covering all stages of education: free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education (4.1); early childhood development and pre-primary education (4.2); equal access to affordable technical, vocational, and tertiary education (4.3); relevant skills for work and life (4.4); gender equality and inclusion (4.5); universal youth and adult literacy (4.6); education for sustainable development and citizenship (4.7); safe and effective learning environments (4.A); teacher supply and training (4.C); and education in emergencies (4.B).

Progress toward SDG 4 has been slower than other SDGs. The 2023 SDG report notes that only 1 in 6 countries are on track to meet the goal of all children completing secondary school by 2030. Climate change, conflict, displacement, and the learning loss from COVID-19 have created new challenges. UNESCO estimates $97 billion in additional annual education financing is needed in low- and lower-middle-income countries to meet SDG 4.

Education and technology

Education technology (EdTech) has emerged as a major theme in recent International Day of Education observances, with the 2025 theme specifically addressing AI and education. UNESCO\'s 2023 Global Education Monitoring Report focused on technology in education, calling for stronger guardrails against digital divides. The report found that while 95% of education ministries supported EdTech policies during COVID-19, only 55% had explicit guidance on AI in classrooms.

The "AI and education" theme has prompted major discussions about preserving human agency, addressing algorithmic bias, and ensuring that AI tools in classrooms serve equity rather than reinforcing existing inequalities. UNESCO released a global guidance on generative AI in education in September 2023, the first international framework for the issue.

International Day of Education by the numbers

Sources

• UN General Assembly Resolution 73/25 (December 19, 2018).
• UNESCO official site: unesco.org
• UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report (annual).
• UNESCO/UNICEF/World Bank, Education Statistics.
• UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 progress reports.