Education has always been the foundation for human achievement, growth, empowerment, and societal advancement. Throughout history, leaders worldwide have emphasized the value of education for all people, regardless of caste, religion, or gender. On January 24, the United Nations celebrates International Day of Education to highlight the world’s commitment to providing fair educational opportunities.

In its dedication to the International Day of Education on January 24, 2024, UNESCO emphasizes the critical role that education and teachers play in tackling the rise of hate speech, compounded by the widespread use of social media. This phenomenon threatens the fabric of societies; hence, it is critical to focus on the role of education in combating these challenges.

This year celebrates the sixth International Day of Education, with the theme “Learning for lasting peace.” To honor this historic day, various events will be held, including a ‘High-level debate on learning for lasting peace’ at UN Headquarters (New York) and a festival centered on ‘Learning to take care of oneself, others, and the planet.

The theme of ‘learning for enduring peace’ for 2024 was chosen in response to a global upswing in violent conflicts, as well as a concerning increase in prejudice, racism, xenophobia, and hate speech. The subject emphasizes the urgent necessity for an active commitment to peace, with education playing a key part. This is consistent with the UNESCO Recommendation on Education for Peace, Human Rights, and Sustainable Development. The vision for learning for peace is transformative, to provide students with the knowledge, values, attitudes, skills, and behaviors they need to be effective peacemakers in their communities.

The International Day of Education was established on December 3, 2018, when the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) designated January 24 as a global day to recognize the importance of education. This campaign sought to increase awareness about the accessibility of education and its universal significance. Since then, January 24 has been recognized and honored worldwide as the International Day of Education.