Every year on September 8th, the International Literacy Day (ILD) is observed to highlight advancements in global literacy rates. Governments from all across the world, as well as members of civil society and other interested parties, should embrace this opportunity to consider the challenges to global literacy that lie ahead. The International Literacy Day will be observed on September 8th, 2023.
“Literacy is not just about education; it is a special and effective tool to end poverty and a powerful means for social and human progress.” The UNESCO established International Literacy Day in 1967 as a day to raise awareness of the value of literacy across all nations and cultures. The 8th of September is the date each year.The theme of International Literacy Day 2023 is Literacy Teaching and Learning in the COVID-19 Crisis and Beyond, with an emphasis on the role of educators and evolving instructional strategies. Therefore, this year's COVID-19 problems in teaching literacy and potential future-proof teaching strategies make the day more pertinent than ever for instructors. International Literacy Day is marked annually on September 8 to increase public awareness of the value of literacy for both individuals and communities as a whole. This unique day serves as a reminder of the importance of literacy for maintaining one's sense of self-worth and the fact that the right to an education is a fundamental human right for everyone. In order to create a more literate and sustainable society, International Literacy Day (ILD) also emphasises the progress of the literacy agenda.
Significance
The growth of a nation is influenced by a variety of things. The most crucial one is the development of its citizens, and literacy gives people a platform for their own personal development before allowing them to contribute to the development of the country. People are reminded of the value of literacy for themselves, their communities, and their countries by means of International Literacy Day. Every year, a special and noteworthy subject is used to commemorate the day, which underlines the conditions that must be met in order to contribute to the development of more literate society worldwide.
History
The World Literacy Day was established in 1965 in Tehran at the World Conference of Education Ministers. With emphasis placed on eradicating illiteracy so that people can have a broader access to livelihood, a UNESCO resolution for the celebration of International Literacy Day was adopted at the 14th session of the organization's General Conference. On October 26, 1966, a resolution establishing September 8 as International Literacy Day was approved. The observation was made with the intention of battling illiteracy and promoting literacy as a means of empowering people and communities. In 1967, the inaugural International Literacy Day was observed.
Why is International Literacy Day necessary?
Two-thirds of adults—over 775 million—struggling with basic reading are female. An excellent method to increase literacy awareness and motivate both adults and children to improve their reading abilities is to observe International Literacy Day (ILD). Since thousands of schools were shuttered worldwide this year due to the COVID-19 situation, it is especially crucial to talk about literacy now. Many adult literacy workshops and programmes also had to be postponed. One thing is certain, but it's unknown how this year will affect literacy in the long run. More than ever, it's critical to emphasise the importance of literacy skills and to motivate both children and adults to acquire them.
What are some ways to observe International Literacy Day?
With a special emphasis on writing and reading abilities, you might want to have a conversation with kids about this subject. You may urge them to consider what life would be like without the benefit of literacy and how being literate empowers both children and adults in terms of their capacity to pursue school, employment opportunities, and other goals.
Additionally, you may invite them to write a creative essay, evaluate one of their favourite books, or read aloud a narrative. They might create their own bookmarks or book covers for something creative. To get them thinking, suggest a word search or your favourite writers or genres. It would be a wonderful approach to engage kids in service if your class participated in a fundraising activity like a literary bake-off for a literacy organisation or donated books.
Join a book club, why not? This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with others who share your interests in books and books and more books! An excellent approach to honour International Literacy Day is to visit a library. You might browse the library's selection of books or ask the staff how they are commemorating the holiday. This might make a fantastic class project or something you could accomplish on your own time.
Why not give language study a shot? A wonderful way to celebrate and try something new! You may take an ASL class and give it a shot.
Theme for International Literacy Day in 2023
'Promoting literacy for a society in transition: Laying the groundwork for sustainable and peaceful communities' is the theme for International Literacy Day in 2023.
The topic for International Literacy Day 2017 was "Transforming Literacy Learning Spaces". The theme offers "a chance to rethink the fundamental importance of literacy learning spaces to ensure quality, equitable, and inclusive education for all" and to foster resilience.
