International Literacy Day

International Literacy Day is marked annually on 8th September. The day observes the importance of literacy and promotes the awareness of education among individuals and societies. It emphasises the need for efforts towards more literate communities.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recognised 8th September as the International Literacy Day at the fourteenth session of UNESCO’s General Conference on 26th October 1966. Initially, the idea of observing an International Literacy Day was mooted at the World Conference of Ministers of Education on the Eradication of Illiteracy, convened in Iran, on 8-19 September 1965. And it has been celebrated since 1967.

The International Literacy Day (ILD) 2020 will be focussing on “Literacy teaching and learning in the COVID-19 crisis” and the “role of educators and changing pedagogies”. The theme emphasis on the innovative and productive pedagogies and teaching methodologies useful for youth and adult literacy programmes to face the pandemic and beyond.

Did you know?

• Globally, 773 million adults are illiterate, and two-thirds of whom are women.
• Based on the data available, more than half of the countries within the age of 15-24, the literacy rate is 95% or higher. Across the planet, 617 million children and adolescents lack minimum proficiency in reading and mathematics.