New Delhi: International Literacy Day (ILD) 2021 will be celebrated today under the theme ‘literacy for a human-centered recovery: narrowing the digital divide’. Literacy is the most valuable aspect of human lives and so the day is observed annually on 8 September.
The COVID-19 crisis has disrupted the learning of children, youth, and adults at an unprecedented scale. This year the literacy day shall magnify the pre-existing inequalities in access to meaningful literacy learning opportunities. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), these inequalities have disproportionately affected 773 million non-literate young people and adults.
UNESCO tweeted: “Digital skills have become a key factor to access life-saving information. But over half of the world’s population lack basic skills for computer-based activities. We must step up efforts to expand #literacy and digital skills for all!”
On one hand, governments of several countries have failed to come up with a strategic approach for adults and youth learning, curtains were pulled on several literacy programmes amid the coronavirus outbreak. Therefore, this year the theme will focus on exploring the opportunities to spread technology-enabled literacy that includes all. No one should be left out from achieving their right to be literate and educated.