International Literacy Day
International Literacy Day is celebrated every year on 8 September. On 26 October 1966, at the 14th session of UNESCO’s General Conference, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) established 8 September as International Literacy Day. The first time it was observed was in 1967. Its goal is to raise awareness of the value of literacy to people, communities, and society. Several countries celebrate the holidays. However, 775 million people lack basic literacy abilities; one in five adults and two-thirds are women.
In the United States, 60.7 million children are not in school, and many more attend infrequently or drop out altogether. Adult literacy rates in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa are the lowest in the world, according to the UNESCO “Global Monitoring Report on Education for All (2006).” (59.7 percent ). Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali have the world’s lowest literacy rates (19 percent ). According to the survey, illiteracy directly correlates with poverty and discrimination against women.
History
More than 50 years since the inaugural International Literacy Day, illiteracy is still a significant issue worldwide. Do you know? More than 750 million individuals in the globe are unable to read. Even in the United States, where an estimated 32 million individuals lack basic literacy skills, the pandemic of illiteracy has not spared any nation or culture.
What does it mean to be literate? As defined by the Miriam-Webster Dictionary, literacy is the ability to read and write. You likely spend a lot of time reading online, so learning that there are people in your community who are unable to read this post and books, restaurant menus, prescription bottle labels, and even the cereal box may come as a shock. But it’s true.
Can you imagine living in the current world if you couldn’t read and write at a basic level? What International Literacy Day is all about is eliminating illiteracy in every community globally. In 1965, the “World Conference of Ministers of Education on the Eradication of Illiteracy” was convened in Tehran, Iran, and the idea for International Literacy Day was born. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) established International Literacy Day on 8 September of the following year to raise awareness of literacy’s significance for people, communities, and societies worldwide. The first International Literacy Day was held one year after the first International Literacy Day was born.
Celebration
Let us thank literacy, a gift too often taken for granted. The ability to read is a fundamental part of our existence. As a non-verbal person, it isn’t easy to experience the world around you since you cannot communicate with others in any way. Fresh reading material is constantly needed in elementary school classroom libraries to keep young kids engaged in reading.s. If you know your child’s teachers, ask them for a list of books they’d want you to gift to their classrooms. Coworkers, family members, or neighbors may be able to use your book donations if you don’t have a child attending school. On this day of literacy, you will be a hero in their eyes.
In honor of International Literacy Day, groups and people utilize their literacy to encourage and support struggling individuals with reading and writing. A student’s tuition and education are paid for, books are supplied to libraries, and volunteers from the community come forward to instruct youngsters in the area.
Institutions, governments, and international organizations work together to combat illiteracy at the grassroots level and hold think tanks and debate forums to devise and execute the most effective policies. Aside from that, they also organize fundraisers. For example, a specific subject is chosen for International Literacy Day to raise public awareness about a particular issue every year.
All Events: 2022 Events Calendar
Fun Fact
Which continent has the lowest literacy rate?
The South Asia continent has the lowest literacy rate of 58.6%.
