As Canada continues to face a teacher shortage, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) says the issue is a “global phenomenon” and more action must be taken if its goal of primary and secondary education for all is to be reached by 2030.
The new report, released Tuesday, comes just before World Teacher Day on Thursday, which UNESCO proclaimed in 1994 to celebrate the work of teachers.
According to the UN agency, most countries are dealing with the issue with many needing millions more teachers in order to reach its goal.
In Sub-Saharan Africa alone, 15 million teachers are needed, making up the biggest shortfall globally, the report said. Europe and North America — the third largest teacher shortage of all regions — sits at 4.8 million. Another 3.2 million is needed in Latin America and the Caribbean.