International Literacy Day [UNESCO] – September 08

International Literacy Day is annually commemorated on the 8th of September in order to highlight the importance of literacy for the human race. The initiative advocates literacy as a guardian of the dignity and rights of humans across the world.

Themes of International Literacy Day Throughout The Years:

• In 2018, the day’s theme was “Literacy and Skills Development”.
• In 2019, the day’s theme was “Literacy and Multilingualism”.
• In 2020, the day’s theme was “Literacy teaching and learning in the COVID-19 crisis and beyond”.
• In 2021, the theme of the day was “Literacy for a human-centered recovery: Narrowing the digital divide”.

Why is International Literacy Day Celebrated?

The day is a product of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals program in 2015. Goal no. 4 emphasizes literacy and its target is to ensure that all young people can get assess to numeracy and literacy and develop skills to establish opportunities for themselves.

Literacy is the only essential society has to eliminate poverty, uncontrolled population, gender discrimination, racism, mortality rates, health hazards, etc.

When we look into the term pandemic COVID-19 along with health, learning is the thing that has suffered the most. Children and young people’s education got highly disturbed, and the pandemic also made them lose the chance of developing practical skills and experience. But, besides all the odds global powers, as well as nations themselves, are putting their efforts to find the best alternative for them so that they can continue their learning and development.

What is the Significance of International Literacy Day?

The International Literacy Day is corroborated to support skill development and literacy in society, which will automatically help in improve people’s quality of life and lead to a sustainable society. The focuses are made on various aspects such as employment, technical and vocational skills, careers, digital skills, etc.

literacy is a resource that has been unevenly distributed throughout the world, one of the reasons behind it can be the cultural diversity and linguistic barrier, hence it becomes important to consider the diversity we have at present and conduct our programs accordingly.

Its objective is to draw the attention of people toward the section of the world that is deprived of education and social development. It is thereby to promote the need for literacy for social human development which can bring these people at par with the modern involving world.

What is the Background of International Literacy Day?

The International Literacy Day was declared to be observed annually on 8th September by UNESCO on 26 October 1966, addressing the issue of illiteracy. The day promotes literacy and skill development and provides facilities through various programs so that people can develop those skills they lack and have a sustainable life.

Eliminating the issues related to illiteracy is one of the key agendas of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals of 2030.

UNESCO has been playing an efficient role in the field. It has been continuously working on the objective of eliminating illiteracy, providing access to education on a global level, and promoting literacy with the combined efforts of nation-states and their governments. Every year the day is celebrated with a topic that needs to be highlighted along with a theme that promotes and advocates favor of literacy.