Since 1967, the annual celebrations of International Literacy Day (ILD) have taken place on 8 September around the world to remind policymakers, practitioners, and the public of the critical importance of literacy for creating more a literate, just, peaceful, and sustainable society.This year, International Literacy Day (ILD) will be celebrated under the theme of “Promoting literacy in the digital era.”
Literacy is a fundamental human right for all. It opens the door to the enjoyment of other human rights, greater freedoms, and global citizenship. Literacy is a foundation for people to acquire broader knowledge, skills, values, attitudes, and behaviors to foster a culture of lasting peace based on respect for equality and non-discrimination, the rule of law, solidarity, justice, diversity, and tolerance and to build harmonious relations with oneself, other people, and the planet.
Despite progress, at least 739 million youth and adults worldwide still lack basic literacy skills in 2024.
At the same time, 4 in 10 children are not reaching minimum proficiency in reading, and 272 million children and adolescents were out of school in 2023.
Interested in the topic? Check out The Basic Education and Literacy Rotary Action Group HERE.