10/05/2026
On World Teachers' Day, we stand with educators everywhere, including the dental hygiene faculty shaping the next generation of our profession. The call to elevate teacher status, ensure fair compensation and create conditions for educators to thrive hits close to home for a profession that has long advocated for the same.
To our dental hygiene educators: thank you. The future of this profession is in good hands because of you. 💙
UNESCO
Strengthening education starts with strengthening the teaching profession.
Yet, new UNESCO data reveal that in 2 out of 5 countries analysed, teachers earn less than professionals with comparable qualifications, making it harder to attract and retain talent in the profession.
On , UNESCO is calling for renewed action to strengthen the symbolic, professional and material status of teachers.
This call carries particular weight as we mark 60 years since the adoption of the International Labour Organization/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, which set out the conditions teachers need to be valued, supported and trusted as professionals.
And the challenge remains significant. The world needs 50 million additional teachers to achieve universal pre-primary, primary and secondary education by 2030. With 58% of this demand driven by attrition, recruiting more teachers must go hand in hand with creating the conditions for them to stay.
Elevating teacher status is not only a matter of supporting educators, but a prerequisite for building resilient education systems and achieving quality learning for all.
Read more: https://www.unesco.org/en/days/teachers
