Believing that teachers are the key pillar in the educational system, and the driving force for achieving quality education, the world celebrates the World Teachers’ Day annually on the 5th of October, which is celebrated this year under the theme “Transforming education begins with teachers.” On this occasion, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) calls for placing teachers at the forefront of the efforts aimed at transforming education, and restoring the due esteem for the teaching profession in order to develop creative and innovative minds and build balanced and capable personalities.

In September 2022, the international community announced its commitment to transform education to meet the learning needs of all in the present and future. In this vein, ICESCO recalls the need to realize that teachers are the cornerstone for achieving these hopes. The path towards a true transformation of education is based in the first place on intensifying investment in teachers to provide the required numbers of teachers, prepare and rehabilitate them in order to upgrade their skills and capacities through their appreciation and support to ensure their financial, material and moral stability, and provide incentives that develop their motivation and ensure an adequate working environment.

In this context, ICESCO stresses the need to bring about a radical and tangible transformation in the conditions of teachers, their training and professional development in a way as to contribute to transforming education as desired. Actually, the teacher we want for tomorrow is totally different from the one we have today. The future teacher needs proactive future thinking skills, critical and creative thinking skills, teamwork skills, skills of action during crises, teaching, assessment, follow-up, and remote communication skills using modern technology as well as emotional stability, psychological and emotional balance, the ability to communicate with others, the ability to work under pressure, and work in all circumstances and conditions.

ICESCO also calls for expanding investment in modern technologies, employing artificial intelligence applications in the educational process, and attaching great importance to enabling teachers to employ them.