World Teachers’ Day is observed on October 5, and this year’s focus is on a stark number: the world needs 44 million more teachers, UNESCO has warned.

The day honours the work teachers do in classrooms everywhere. It was set up to recognise their role in shaping learning and society.

UNESCO’s warning puts the scale of the crisis in plain terms. Millions of children lack a trained teacher, and the gap is widest in developing regions.

Teacher shortages strain education systems in rich countries too. An OECD report this year warned that shortages are stretching schools across member nations.

Low pay, heavy workloads and tough classroom conditions push teachers out of the profession. Recruiting and keeping them is the central challenge.

This year’s Teachers’ Day is a reminder that learning goals mean little without the people who teach. Closing the 44-million gap will take funding, training and better working conditions.