The crisis of COVID-19 has disrupted the learning of children, young people, and adults on an unusual scale. At least 773 million young people and adults lacking literacy skills today. Even during this global crisis, efforts are being made to find alternatives ways to ensure the continuity of learning, like distance learning, etc.
Literacy is a driver of sustainable development. It empowers individuals and improves their living standards. Sustainable Development Goal 4 defines literacy as an integral part of education and lifelong learning premised on humanism. Also, literacy is important to a human-centred recovery from COVID-19.
International Literacy Day (ILD) is celebrated on September 8 to spread awareness about the importance of literacy for individuals, communities, and societies and the need for intensified efforts towards more literate societies. It is necessary to raise awareness in the world of literary issues that are faced by people and also to endorse campaigns that help in increasing literacy for all people.
International Literacy Day 2021: Theme
The theme for 2021 is “Literacy for a human-centred recovery: Narrowing the digital divide”.
International Literacy Day: History
On 26 October 1966, UNESCO proclaimed 8 September as International Literacy Day to combat worldwide issues of illiteracy. The purpose was not only to combat illiteracy but also to promote literacy as a tool that could empower individuals as well as entire communities. Due to this many people around the globe will get employment opportunities and will improve their lives. This day was also adopted as part of the UN's sustainable development goals program in 2015. The issue of literacy is a key component of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Why is International Literacy Day celebrated?
This day is celebrated to promote human attention towards literacy and know their rights for social and human development. Literacy is a necessary tool to efface poverty, bring down child mortality, control population growth, attain gender equality etc.
UNESCO continues to play a leading role in improving global literacy and espousing International Literacy Day with governments, communities, etc. Through themes and several programmes, it aims to highlight the role of literacy and skills development in the context of a changing world.