September 8 is International Literacy Day as declared by UNESCO on November 17, 1965 in order to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies.
On International Literacy Day each year, UNESCO reminds the international community of the status of literacy and adult learning globally. Celebrations take place around the world.
Literacy and Empowerment is the theme for the year 2009-2011 of the United Nations Literacy Decade.
Since its very inception, this day became a special occasion to mark literacy awareness and many educational programs featured this particular day in their year round events.
Despite many and varied efforts, literacy remains an elusive target: some 793 million adults lack minimum literacy skills which means that about one in six adults is still not literate, about two-thirds of them are women; while 67.4 million children are out-of-school and many more attend irregularly or drop out.
According to UNESCO, a literate person is one, who can, with understanding, both read and write a short statement relevant to routine life, and capable of analytical understanding of men’s condition in the world.
Literacy is a means of personal liberation and development and delivering individuals educational efforts. Literacy is a method of achieving faculties to develop their economic status and general well being and inculcating values of national integration, conservation of surroundings, fairer sex’s equality, observance of standard family tradition, etc.
Literacy is a human right, a tool of personal empowerment and a means for social and human development. Educational opportunities depend on literacy.
Literacy is at the heart of basic education for all, and essential for eradicating poverty, reducing child mortality, curbing population growth, achieving gender equality and ensuring sustainable development, peace and democracy. There are good reasons why literacy is at the core of Education for All (EFA).
A good quality basic education equips pupils with literacy skills for life and further learning; literate parents are more likely to send their children to school; literate people are better able to access continuing educational opportunities; and literate societies are better geared to meet pressing development.
To raise public awareness of the extraordinary value of the written word and of the necessity to promote a literate society, the following writers are supporting UNESCO through the Writers for Literacy Initiative.
This year, UNESCO is set to confer the Honorable Mention for the King Sejong International Literacy Prize to the City Literacy Coordinating Council of Tagum for its “Peace Management Literacy and Continuing Education through Night Market” program.
This program uses peace education activities, literacy and entrepreneurship to generate employment opportunities for marginalized populations and sustain a peaceful urban environment. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will confer the Honourable Mention for the King Sejong International Literacy Prize to the City Literacy Coordinating Council of Tagum for its “Peace Management
This program uses peace education activities, literacy and entrepreneurship to generate employment opportunities for marginalized populations and sustain a peaceful urban environment. No less than Mayor Rey T. Uy along with selected members of the CLCC will receive the award consisting of a bronze medal and a diploma in New Delhi, India in connection to the International Conference on Women's Literacy for Inclusive and Sustainable Development.