Education Day

National Education Day

National Education Day is observed on 11th November every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of Shri Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first education minister of independent India.

Background

The Ministry of Education (earlier called as Ministry of Human Resource Development) had announced 11th November as 'National Education Day' on 11th September, 2008. It is to commemorate the birthday of Shri Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, by recalling his contribution to the cause of education in India. Hence it is being celebrated since November 11 from 2008 onwards. 

About Shri Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

Maulana Abul Kalam Muhiyuddin Ahmed (11 November 1888 – 22 February 1958) was one of the foremost leaders of the Indian freedom struggle. He was also a great scholar and poet. He was appointed as independent India's first Minister for Education (1947 to 1958) and inducted in the Constituent Assembly to draft India's Constitution.

Under Maulana Azad's tenure, a number of measures were undertaken to promote primary and secondary education, scientific education, the establishment of universities and the promotion of avenues of research and higher studies. The Maulana established many institutions such as the Sahitya Akademi, the Sangeet Natak Akademi, the Lalit Kala Akademi, and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, and also provided a major stimulus for the setting up of the Indian Institutes of Technology.

His work for education and social upliftment in India made him an important influence in guiding India's economic and social development. For his invaluable contribution to the nation, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was posthumously awarded India's highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, in 1992.

International Education Day

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 24 January as International Day of Education, in celebration of the role of education for peace and development. The first IED was celebrated during 2019.

Without inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong opportunities for all, countries will not succeed in achieving gender equality and breaking the cycle of poverty that is leaving millions of children, youth and adults behind.

Theme for 2023

The fifth International Day of Education will be celebrated on 24 January 2023 under the theme “to invest in people, prioritize education”.

Building on the global momentum generated by the UN Transforming Education Summit in September 2022, this year’s Day will call for maintaining strong political mobilization around education and chart the way to translate commitments and global initiatives into action. Education must be prioritized to accelerate progress towards all the Sustainable Development Goals against the backdrop of a global recession, growing inequalities and the climate crisis.

The year 2023 marks the mid-point since the UN adopted the 2030 Agenda for people, planet and prosperity, with a set of 17 interlocked goals that will come up for review at the SDG Summit in September on the theme of investing in people.

The cost of under-investment in education imperils our common future. Education remains in a situation of crisis: six out of 10 children cannot read and understand a simple story at age 10; 244 million children and youth are still out of school while the number of young people in employment fell by 34 million in 2020 at a higher percentage rate than that for adults.

Source : UNESCO