Teachers Deserve Training and Collaboration to Transform Global Education
A new UNESCO fact sheet highlights a growing crisis in teacher training. Only 14% of low-income countries require ongoing professional development for primary teachers. In sub-Saharan Africa, the number of trained teachers has dropped sharply since 2000. Today, just 69% of primary and 59% of secondary teachers are trained.
This decline threatens education quality and equality. As a result, more teachers are leaving their jobs, worsening the global shortage. To meet universal education goals by 2030, the world needs 44 million more teachers.
Why Collaboration Matters
On World Teachers’ Day, UNESCO, ILO, UNICEF, and Education International urged governments to support collaboration within the profession. They stressed that teamwork builds stronger, more inclusive education systems.
Teachers lead innovation and inclusion in classrooms. However, many lack the networks needed to share ideas and improve their practice. Collaboration helps teachers reflect, co-teach, and solve problems together. Therefore, creating professional communities is key to building confidence and resilience.
As teachers grow, they benefit from study circles and shared learning groups. These spaces encourage creativity and collective problem-solving
Global Action and Leadership
The latest UNESCO GEM Report found that only half of countries promote teacher collaboration in leadership standards. Few leadership programs prepare school heads to share responsibility. The report calls for policies that reward teamwork and shared leadership.
At the World Summit on Teachers, the Santiago Consensus reaffirmed that teaching is a collective profession. It emphasized teachers’ role in shaping fair, effective education policies.
This year’s global celebration takes place on October 3, 2025, in Addis Ababa. The event, hosted by the African Union, will honor teachers worldwide and celebrate their vital role in shaping the future.
