International Day of Education | What is it and why learn about it?

Today is International Day of Education, observed on the 24th of January. Recognized by the United Nations Educational Social and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), this year, the day is dedicated to all the girls and women in Afghanistan who have been denied their right to learn, study, and teach.  Why is it important that children know about the International Day of education? 

This year’s theme: “To invest in people, prioritize education”

A United Nations survey has found that more than 244 million children¹ are out of school around the world in 2021. Going to school for many worldwide isn’t as simple as taking the school bus or simply walking down the block. For some, it is dangerous, and in the case of places like Afghanistan, even illegal; this includes women teachers. Most of us cannot even imagine a school without women teachers.  

Some facts about education in the USA 
 

• Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares education to be a fundamental human right
• Over 34 million children³ go to school in the USA between Pre-K and grade 8 
• On average, American kids spend 6.6 hours in school and spend 180 days³ a year in school
• South Korea has among the longest school hours in the world; children sometimes spend 12 to 16 hours² a day learning
• About 7,000 students³ drop out of school a day in the US, on average 
• If a student in third grade does not read proficiently at their level, they are four times⁴ more likely to drop out of high school 

What can we do about all this? 

This day is a good opportunity for you to talk with your child about education, its value, and how we can develop a sense of gratitude for having easy access to so much information. There are those in our hometowns, states, and country who might not be able to afford education due to their social, economic, or cultural situations. The idea is to inform and educate, not to create a sense of guilt. You can even speak with your child about them getting into education as a teacher if they are interested.  

Sources: 
1 https://www.unesco.org/en/days/education 
2 International Schools and the Education System in South Korea. 
3 Fast Facts: Back-to-school statistics (372) 
4 Double Jeopardy - The Annie E. Casey Foundation 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights | United Nations