(VNF) - Do you know that Teachers' Day in different countries around the world is celebrated on different dates?

Teachers and students in Vietnam (source: Doi Song Phap Luat)

Let't find out more about Teachers' Day in different countries.

India

In India, Teachers' Day is celebrated on September 5 in honour of Dr Sarvepallai Radhakrishnan. Before becoming the first vice-president and the second president of India, he was, more importantly, a respected scholar and teacher of philosophy.

Every year, on September 5, classrooms across India fill up with greeting cards, chocolates, flowers and performances as student show their gratitude to those who play the vital role in shaping their future.

Indonesia:

In Indonesia, National Teachers' Day is celebrated on November 25, the birthday of the Indonesian Teachers' Association, the PGRI. Celebrations are held in recognition of teachers and the school staff. Teachers get encouragement and support from the community and are shown that their devotion to students is appreciated.

Vietnam:

The Vietnamese Teachers' Day is celebrated on November 20. Students usually visit their teachers at their homes to offer them flowers and gifts as a means to express their respect. At schools, the day is celebrated with arts performance, and sometimes parties. Alumni meetings are held in order for former students to thank their former teachers.

China:

The Republic of China uses this day to honour teachers' dedication, struggles, and contribution to their students and to the society. Gratitude is shown to teachers, on September 28, in the form of cards and flowers. This date was chosen to commemorate the birth of Confucius, believed to be the model master educator in ancient China. The festival celebration in temples of Confucius includes dancers and drummers.

Chile:

October 16 was chosen as the Dia del Profesor or Teachers' Day to honour the founding of the Teachers' Association of Chile. Students present each teacher with a certificate or a collection of teacher appreciation messages, poems, and drawings.

Malaysia:

The date 16th of May has been chosen as Teachers’ Day. It is called Hari Guru in Malay language.

Even though it is a working day, Teachers’ Day is still celebrated with great enthusiasm.

Its history has a close relation with an event which happened on May 16, 1956 that the Federal Legislative Council gave its approval for the proposals in the Education Committee Report to be endorsed as the national education policy of this country. The document is also known as the Razak Report and has since been the National Education Policy.

Singapore

This holiday is celebrated in Singapore annually on September 1.

Celebration of Teachers Day is an official day off at schools of Singapore. Normally celebrations are organized the day before, students have a half day off to participate in festive events. They put on performances to entertain and honor their teachers.

Thailand

Teacher’s day (วันครู Wan Kruu) is celebrated every year on January 16 in Thailand, it is also a school holiday. It is the day that teachers gather together to remember their first teachers.

Thai people believe that people working in any field of work all have a teacher . Therefore, they have a Wai Kru ceremony to worship or respect the teacher.

Students in Thailand present flowers to teachers on Teachers' Day (source: thaischoollife.com)

The highlights of the day include religious activities, a ceremony of paying respect to teachers and activities to strengthen unity among teachers.

Every year on this day, the Prime Minister or an important poet will establish the motto for teachers. Here is what was chosen for this year by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha:

Teacher’s Day 2016 Motto: “The future can be bright by good and quality teachers”

The US

Students in US with note of thank to their teachers on Teachers' Day (source: www.nea.org)

Traditionally, the Tuesday of the first full week of May is the National Teacher Day in the USA. Therefore the actual date varies from one year to another. Additionally, the whole week is considered as the Teacher Appreciation Week, and lots of activities are carried out on this occasion to express the students' appreciation to their teachers.

Korea

Korea celebrates its own Teacher's Day or National Teacher's Day, in mid-May each year. The modern form of this holiday started in 1963 when a group of Red Cross youth visited their teacher who was ill in the hospital. In 1965, the holiday was moved to coincide with the birthday of King Sejong the Great (1397-1450), which falls on May 15.

Every year on May 15, or on the closest school day before May 15, teachers across the nation are presented with carnations. Both current students and former students head to the classroom to honor their favorite teachers and to present them with single red carnations. Also on May 15 each year in the capital, the Ministry of Education issues a merit award to one outstanding teacher from across the nation.

Hungary

From the beginning of the 1950's teacher appreciation has been shown on Hungary's national Teacher's Day. It is celebrated every year on the first Sunday of June, as one of the most important national celebrations.

The history of Teachers’ Day in Hungary dates back to 1951, when a regulation was made by the Council of Ministers in which they declared the first Sunday of June to be the day, when appreciation is shown towards teachers.

In most schools teacher's day celebrations are attached to other school ceremonies. Usually school choir sings songs and students declaim poems that were written especially for teachers by famous poets.