International Day of Education is celebrated on January 24 every year. Due to Sunday on January 24, it is being observed on Monday, January 25 this year. United Nations use the opportunity to remind the society to be accountable for Education become the rights of every individual. International Day of Education propagates the role of education for peace and development. The readers must know the real significance of education which unfolds the mystery.

International Day of Education 2021: Highlights

• The celebration of International Education Day on January 25 this year
• Regular celebration is on January 24 every year but changed due to Sunday Holiday
• UNESCO, UNHQ and CRI have joint responsibility to celebrate the global event 
• The pandemic has affected the education of 1.6 billion students in more than 190 nations
• The real education is to learn the mystery of life that is possible by eternal knowledge

COVID-19 Pandemic Made Difference

The world community celebrates the third International Education Day in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The coronavirus outbreaks have led to education disruption of unprecedented scale and severity. The schools and universities have closed interrupting many literacy and lifelong learning programs. The pandemic has affected the education of 1.6 billion students in more than 190 nations. The year 2021 shows hope of a restart of education and lifelong learning with collaboration and international solidarity.

Which Date, Day Is IED (International Day of Education 2021) Observed?

United Nations’ (UN) observe the International Education Day on January 24 every year. Sunday, a holiday falls on January 24 in the year 2021, therefore the UN will celebrate the third International Education Day on Monday, 25 January.

What Is the Aim of International Day of Education?

United Nations consider Education as a human right and a public responsibility. Its aim is to spread education as the basic needs and privileges and to make people understand their responsibilities and duties. This Day aims to:

• Commemorate initiatives taken by governments, educationalists, associations. 
• Underline best practices that effectively and efficiently target the most unprivileged. 
• Action to protect education through the recovery, increase inclusion and prevent drop-out.
• Support the COVID-19 generation to gain the gaps due to an economic recession and express their concerns.

What Is the Theme of International Day of Education 2021?

UNESCO proclaimed the Theme of International Education Day 2021 for the year 2021 is “Recover and Revitalize Education for the COVID-19 Generation”.

Coronavirus outbreaks have frozen the educational activities. The Theme of current year reminds the thinkers for revival of education. The students have suffered a lot during COVID-19 pandemic and have also learnt to develop alternative ways. There is a possibility that the mix of online and physical education will create opportunities for the students. The need to educate students and parents about health concerns have addressed the health aspects for the whole community.

What Makes Education a Human Right?

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in article 26 enshrines the right to education. The declaration appeals for free and compulsory elementary education. Adopted in 1989, the Convention on the Rights of the Child specified that the countries shall make higher education reachable to all.

What Makes Education Important in UN Sustainable Development Goals?

In September 2015, United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the international community accepted education as essential for the success of all 17 of its goals. UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 4 intends to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” by 2030.

■ Also Read: World Teachers’ Day 2020: Go to an Enlightened Teacher to Unfold the Mystery 

What Are the Challenges in Achieving Universal Education?

Education helps children to come out of poverty and create a way to an encouraging future. Even today worldwide many children have no access to basic education.

• 265 million children and adolescents do not enter or complete school. 
• 617 million children and adolescents cannot read and do basic math. 
• Less than 40% of girls in sub-Saharan Africa complete lower secondary school. 
• Four million children and youth refugees are out of school. 

Their right to education is contravened. In absence of inclusive and equitable quality education opportunity, the nations cannot achieve gender equality and stop the vicious cycle of poverty.

What Is the History of International Day of Education?

On 3 December 2018, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed a resolution declaring January 24 as International Day of Education. The first International Day of Education was celebrated on January 24, 2019. In the current year 2021, third International Day of education is celebrated. The UNGA is spreading the message to all corners of the globe. The efforts have reflected a clear impact in the betterment of an educated individual to constitute a cultured society, supported with openings and positivity.

What Is the Significance and Importance of World Education Day?

It is a well understood and recognized fact that poverty is directly proportional to education. Therefore, the United Nations decided to celebrate as International Day of Education. The celebration of the Day is significant according to the following – 

• UN adopted education as essential for the success of all 17 Sustainable Goals. 
• The Day acts as an umbrella to fulfill many other motives of the United Nations.
• UN has conveyed a message through this day that has a wide range of effects.
• United Nations appreciated that eradicating poverty is possible by creating opportunities for education.
• Many nations, mostly the third world countries, the number of people under poverty is almost equal to the number of people under illiteracy. 
• Rather than feeding the needy one, it is much preferred to teach them and make them capable of earning to fulfil his desires himself.  

What Is the Impact of COVID-19 on Education?

COVID-19 is a pandemic that started one year ago from China and spread as a fatal disease worldwide very quickly. However, the disease spreads through air and by touching where the virus becomes inhabitant.  Several million people got affected in no time making the masses caged in their houses.

The life routine restricted movement and Education was also not an exception. The situation compelled the educational institutions to close. The Pandemic taught the society that Education in COVID-19 generation is not linked with physical form like classroom and books etc. but to remote online mode. 

Who Is Responsible to Organize the 2021 Celebrations?

The year 2021 celebrates the third International Day of Education on Monday January 25 as January 24 falls on the holiday Sunday. The global event has three main segments – learning heroes, innovations, and financing. The UNESCO New York Office, UNHQ, the Global Partnership for Education and the Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies (CRI), and feature the participation of partners from the Global Education Coalition will share joint responsibility to organize the global event. CRI and UNESCO have the onus to spearhead a Learning Planet Festival to celebrate learning in all contexts. They share innovations that fulfill the potential of every learner, no matter what their circumstances are. The CRI organizes an essay contest of “Le Petit Prince” and will unveil the winners.  

Does Education Mean Knowing the Science of the World or Beyond?

On International Day of Education one must know the real significance of human life. The biggest mystery is about the universe and everything present in it, who has created them, why the living beings take birth and die. Can these questions be answered by so called education? Certainly not. The present-day education can only unfold the physical world partly.   

How to Know the Secret of Beyond?

The holy scriptures can yield limited knowledge about the physical world but very limited about the Souls. The Soul related knowledge can be unfolded by the Creator Himself. The million-dollar question arises how to meet the Creator. Only an enlightened Saint can tell the truth about the Creator, the soul, the death and birth cycle and the real purpose of human life. The holy scriptures have given hints like Tatvadarshi Sant in Shrimad Bhagvat Gita and The Bakhabar in Quran Sharif. The seeker should read the sacred book The Way of Living and visit Satlok Ashram YouTube Channel to find the answers to all their queries.   

To Unfold the Mystery, Take Refuge of Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj 

Today, Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj is the only enlightened one who is capable enough to unfold any sort of mysteries. Only thing the seeker must do is to go in the refuge of Him and take Naam Diksha (Initiation) from Him, practice strictly as per His instructions, and follow all rules without any exceptions.