Celebrating the teachers bringing hope to refugee camps

2026-10-05 community

Kakuma, 5 October 2026
As Kakuma refugee camp celebrated World Teachers’ Day on 5 October 2026, UNESCO warned of a critical global shortage of 44 million teachers needed by 2030.

Hope and Resilience in the Horn of Africa

In the Kakuma refugee camp, World Teachers’ Day was marked with vibrant community activities on 4 October 2026, showcasing the crucial role that educators play in restoring normalcy and providing future opportunities for displaced children [2]. Despite facing overcrowded classrooms and limited learning materials, refugee and host community teachers remain the unsung heroes who sustain classrooms and strengthen their communities [8]. This spirit of dedication is mirrored across the region, notably in the Dadaab refugee complex, where former refugees are returning to give back to the communities that raised them [7].

From Students to Leaders of Tomorrow

A powerful example of this local commitment is Suleiman, a former refugee who has returned to the Dadaab refugee complex to work as a teacher [7]. Suleiman has set his sights on ensuring that current refugee students have the same opportunities to reach their dreams that he once had [7]. As UNHCR Eastern and Southern Africa noted, ‘a good teacher can help a struggling student become a great one’ [7], highlighting how education serves as a lifeline for young people navigating the uncertainties of displacement [GPT].

A Sixty-Year Legacy of Protecting the Profession

On a global scale, 5 October 2026 marks the 60th anniversary of the 1966 ILO-UNESCO recommendation concerning the status of teachers [1]. This year’s international theme, ‘Standing with teachers: 60 years of protecting the profession, advancing its status and shaping our futures’, underscores the urgent need to support educators professionally and materially [1]. To address modern challenges such as digital technologies, climate change, migration, and displacement, UNESCO is actively revising this historical framework [1]. Meanwhile, the global community gathered at UNESCO headquarters in Paris today to celebrate outstanding educators during the ninth UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development ceremony [1].

Tackling the Global Shortage and Regional Challenges

The celebrations come at a critical juncture, as UNESCO warns that the world requires 44 million additional teachers by 2030 to achieve universal primary and secondary education [1]. In East Africa, local organisations are advocating fiercely to improve working conditions so that teachers can focus on their vital work [6][8]. In neighbouring Tanzania, the national celebrations at Nyerere Square in Dodoma, which ran from 1 October to 5 October 2026, provided a platform for teachers and policy-makers to discuss these systemic challenges directly [4][6].

Advocating for Teacher Welfare and Professional Dignity

During the Dodoma events, the Tanzania Teachers’ Union (CWT) urged the government to pay outstanding teacher claims, including leave allowances and promotion payments, in a timely manner [6]. Magesa Protas Magesa, the Acting Secretary General of CWT, emphasised that teachers love their work and are dedicated to making a difference, but timely payments allow them to focus fully on delivering quality education [6]. This sentiment was echoed by teachers like Ibrahim Hussein of Maungu Primary School, who highlighted how the celebrations unite educators to find collective solutions to their professional challenges [5].

Bronnen

Refugee education Teachers' Day