International Day of Education

International Day of Education History

The International Day of Education seeks to highlight the importance of adequate global education as an essential pillar for achieving sustainable development and fostering global peace. Proclaimed by the United Nations, this day draws focus on equitable and inclusive quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all. It recognises that education is not only a fundamental human right but also a necessary tool for poverty eradication, social inclusion, and economic growth. This observance calls for renewed attention and action to ensure that every individual, regardless of their circumstances, can access quality education.

The UN General Assembly declared the International Day of Education on December 3, 2018, recognising education as a key driver for inclusion and empowerment. For the United Kingdom, a country possessing a considerable influence on the world's educational landscape, this observance has specific relevance. Education is at the heart of the UK's domestic and international policies, and its universities are renowned globally. The observance resonates with the nation's commitment to quality education, providing opportunities for knowledge exchange, fostering global citizenship, enhancing international cooperation, and contributing to worldwide educational advancement.

The International Day of Education is observed in the UK through numerous activities that promote the significance of education. These include educational conferences, public campaigns, special school activities, and initiatives to support global education goals. The country's academic institutions, civil society organisations, and governmental bodies participate in these activities, encouraging dialogue and cooperation, as well as highlighting the importance of education in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. This observance takes place globally on January 24 each year.

Top 8 Facts for 2026 International Day of Education in the UK

• The upcoming observance is centered on the official theme The power of youth in co-creating education, which emphasizes the active role of students as agents of change rather than just beneficiaries of learning.
• For this year’s celebration, UNESCO is set to release a groundbreaking global measurement within the Global Education Monitoring Report that assesses for the first time how effectively different countries involve young people in education legislation and policymaking.
• Coinciding with the international event, the UK Education Secretary has launched the National Year of Reading in partnership with the National Literacy Trust to encourage a nationwide rediscovery of reading for pleasure across all age groups.
• A significant development for the British education sector is the introduction of a new £200 million landmark SEND teacher training programme designed to ensure every teacher in England receives specialized training to support pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.
• The 2026 observance will also see the introduction of a new cohort for the SDG4 Youth & Student Network, a global platform that provides young activists with a permanent seat alongside world leaders in high-level steering committees.
• In a move to modernize the academic experience for British teenagers, the government has announced a new digital application that will allow every Year 11 student in England to access their GCSE results directly on their mobile devices starting in the summer of 2026.
• Global celebrations are set to feature the LearningPlanet Festival, which runs from the 21st to the 28th of January and includes hundreds of grassroots events focused on youth-led innovation and the future of "educational co-creation."
• The United Nations has highlighted that despite global progress, approximately 250 million children remain out of school, a figure that remains a central focus for UK-based charities like Save the Children as they advocate for education in crisis-affected regions.

In the News and Trending in the UK for International Day of Education

Top things to do in the UK for International Day of Education

• Films to watch that highlight the importance of International Day of Education are:
  Educating Rita (1983): This is an award-winning film about a working-class woman’s struggle to gain an education and change her life.
  Don't Take Our Kids (2015): This Channel 4 documentary explores the difficulties of getting into good schools in the UK and speaks to families stuck in the middle of it.
  School Swap: The Class Divide (2016): Another documentary by Channel 4 which digs into the controversial topic of education inequality in the UK.
  To Sir, With Love (1967): A classic film about a teacher in an inner-city school in London and his unique methods of educating and connecting with students.
• Popular events to attend on International Day of Education in the UK are:
  1) Themed Workshops and Seminars: Various institutions in the UK often either attend or organize workshops and seminars discussing global education issues. Notable participating institutions include UNICEF UK, Oxfam Education, Centre for Global Education, etc.
  2) Webinars and Virtual Discussions: Due to the pandemic, many events have moved online, allowing experts from various fields to discuss diverse aspects of education.
  3) Art and Cultural Events: To engage younger students, schools and organizations may host arts and crafts, performances, and storytelling sessions focused on global education stories.