International Literacy Day, 2021

Literacy is the most basic currency of the knowledge economy

Every year, September 8 is observed as International Literacy Day. The day is celebrated, to create awareness and concern for literacy problems that exist in our country, as well as in other parts of the globe.

International Literacy Day was conceived at the “World Conference of Ministers of Education on the Eradication of Illiteracy” held in Tehran, Iran, in 1965. The following year UNESCO declared September 8 as International Literacy Day.

The day was established in 1966 by a proclamation of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO. The literal aim of the founders was to remind people about the importance of literacy in terms of respect and human rights. Every year on this day, the agenda of building a more literate society is discussed.

This year, keeping in mind the Covid-19 pandemic, the aim of the International Literacy Day 2021: 'Literacy for a human-centered recovery: Narrowing the digital divide'.

The special focus this year is on the interplay of literacy and digital skills required by non-literate youth and adults. Various measures are taken to make the education system reach the neediest.

International Literacy Day has contributed a lot to improving literacy rates in the country and on the global level. For more than fifty years since the first International Literacy Day, illiteracy remains a global problem.

The overall structure of International Literacy Day is to spread awareness of the importance of education. As we all know, the foundation of growth lies in education.