CTF/FCE Announces 2026 Norm Goble World Teachers’ Day Award Recipients

OTTAWA, Ontario, Oct. 05, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- The Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE) has announced the recipients of the 2026 Norm Goble World Teachers’ Day Award, recognizing their efforts to defend and promote the teaching profession and advance quality public education that is inclusive and accessible to all. This year, the award honors the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the Syndicat national des enseignants africains du Burkina (SNEA-B), and the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU).

Established in 2014 and named in honour of Dr. Norman Goble, who served as the CTF/FCE Secretary General from 1970 to 1982 and played a pivotal role in establishing World Teachers’ Day in 1994, the Norm Goble World Teachers’ Day Award is presented annually to support CTF/FCE international partners in organizing activities to mark World Teachers’ Day (WTD). This year, the 2026 World Teachers’ Day also marks the 60th anniversary of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers.

Each of the three recipients received $1,500 to support their World Teachers’ Day initiatives. Activities include a parade float through the main streets of Accra, a grand celebration at GNAT headquarters, regional and district celebrations, and a two-day symposium celebrating teachers and advocating for policies that promote professional development and teacher well-being. Additionally, GNAT is funding the construction of an additional classroom in two schools and providing 50 children in need with school uniforms and educational resources.

The SNEA-B’s theme for this year’s WTD event is "My Classroom, My School, My Impact." The event is designed to highlight the professionalism, creativity, and dedication of teachers in Burkina Faso. It will give teachers the opportunity to showcase concrete initiatives they have implemented in their classrooms, schools, and communities. These initiatives aim to improve learning, foster inclusion, and support vulnerable students, with a particular focus on promoting reading and literacy, gender equality, and environmental protection. The SNEA-B aims to demonstrate that teachers are not merely part of the educational system but skilled professionals who innovate, adapt, and develop solutions to the challenges they encounter in their schools and classrooms.

The UNATU will celebrate World Teachers’ Day in a two-phase initiative. The responses will be reviewed and compiled into a national online advocacy resource, helping to raise public awareness and deepen understanding of the teaching profession in Uganda. The second phase will focus on training and supporting UNATU members while laying the foundation for a comprehensive UNATU Teachers’ Information Toolkit. The questions teachers raise, areas where they seek greater understanding, and the practical information and tools they identify as most valuable will help shape the toolkit.

Founded in 1920, the CTF/FCE is a national alliance of provincial and territorial teachers’ organizations that represent over 370,000 teachers and education workers across Canada. The CTF/FCE is also an affiliate of Education International, which represents more than 33-million educators.