Teachers, professors, instructors, and even those who bring the classroom to the streets are special people for they help shape the minds of the future generation. That’s why the world celebrates World Teachers’ Day every Oct. 5 to honor the efforts of the teachers. October 5 as World Teachers Day was declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1994. It was on Oct. 5, 1966 when “a special intergovernmental conference convened by UNESCO in Paris adopted the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) recommendation to improve the rights and responsibilities of teachers and their “initial preparation, further education, recruitment, employment, teaching, and learning conditions,” among others. (Manila Bulletin file photo) The date also celebrates the UNESCO General Conference’s adoption of the UNESCO Recommendation “concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel” in 1997. To celebrate the event, schools and institutions worldwide conduct programs and campaigns to recognize and pay tribute to teachers. UNESCO and the Education International (EI) observe the occasion through partnerships and collaborations with private sectors to raise awareness on the important role of educators. In the Philippines, the country, through the Department of Education (DepEd), celebrates National Teachers’ Day on Oct. 5, and National Teachers’ Month from Sept. 5 to Oct. 5 as declared by Republic Act 10743 – which was signed into law on Jan. 29, 2016 by former president Benigno Aquino III – and Presidential Proclamation 242 series of 2011, respectively. (John Jerome Ganzon/ Manila Bulletin file photo) This year’s theme of World Teachers Day is “The Transformation of Education Begins with Teachers,” while the theme of the National Teachers Month is “Gurong Pilipino: Dangal ng Sambayanang Pilipino (Filipino Teachers: Pride of the Filipino Nation).”