The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed January 24 as the International Day of Education.

The UN states that "without inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong opportunities for all, countries will not succeed in achieving gender equality and breaking the cycle of poverty that is leaving millions of children, youth and adults behind."

In acknowledgement, Saint Lucia's Ministry of Youth Development and Sports said: "The Ministry of Youth Development and Sports is proud to be part of a movement that is helping to shape the future and empower our youth and athletes around the world.

"Education is essential for unlocking potential and inspiring dreams. As an agency serving youth and athletes, believe in the power of education to create positive change in our communities and around the world. Let's come together to celebrate the importance of education and work towards making education accessible and inclusive for everyone."

This year, the UN will celebrate the fifth International Day of Education on Jan. 24, 2023 under the theme “to invest in people, prioritize education”. Building on the global momentum generated by the UN Transforming Education Summit in September 2022, this year’s Day will call for maintaining strong political mobilization around education and chart the way to translate commitments and global initiatives into action. Education must be prioritized to accelerate progress towards all the Sustainable Development Goals against the backdrop of a global recession, growing inequalities and the climate crisis.

UNESCO is dedicating this year's International Day to girls and women in Afghanistan who have been deprived of their right to education. It is calling for the immediate lifting of the ban restricting their access to education.