A very hearty welcome to all the viewers admires as well as the critics of informaticnishant.in. Today’s topic is relatively distinguished. Today is the International literacy day being which is celebrated on 8th September every year.
It aims to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies to make improvements in world literacy rates and tackle its challenges.
Literacy means ‘Ability to read & write, and the act of being educated’. Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope! In this International Literacy Day, let’s take a pledge to help spread education in India and make a difference to someone’s life!
Literacy is an essential need for the development of a person or a country. The countries having low literacy rate are economically failed & their progress rate is very low. In the words of Barak Obama –
“Literacy is the most basic currency in the knowledge economy.”
History: International Literacy Day
On October 26 1996, at the 14th session of UNESCO General Conference, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) declared 8th September as international literacy day. The first international literacy day was celebrated in 1967.
UNESCO also announces international literacy awards on 8th September every year. In this year 2020, the day will focus particularly on technical, vocational and digital skills required for careers and livelihoods.
It is estimated that around 750 million adults worldwide lacked minimum literacy skills. That is more than twice the population of USA. 1 in 5 adults are illiterate among which 2 at of 3 of them are women.
More shockingly 61 million children do not go to school and many more attend irregularly or dropout.
In various part of the countries as well as in different countries, programs and functions are held to celebrate this auspicious day.
There is a list of countries by literacy rate which is maintained by UNESCO Institute of Statistics which works on the behalf of UNESCO with the estimates based on the people aged 15 years or above which are able to read and write.
The global literacy rate is 86.3%. The global female literacy rate is 82.7% and the global male literacy rate is 90.01%. The rate varies throughout the world with the developed countries having 99.2%, Oceana having 71.3% where the south and west Asia at 70.2% & Sub-Saharan Africa is at 64.0%.
The all India literacy rate is 69.3%, where the all India male literacy rate is 78.9% and the female literacy rate is 59.13%.
International Literacy Day Themes
Every year this day is celebrated with specific themes. The theme for the year 2017 was ‘Literacy in a digital world’. The theme focuses on how digitization has evolved literacy across the world. People are able to learn all by themselves from the internet.
The theme for 2018 was ‘Literacy and Skills Development’ to explore integrated approaches that simultaneously support the development of literacy and skills, to improve the lives and work of people and contribute to equitable and sustainable societies.
The theme of International Literacy Day 2019 was “Literacy and Multilingualism” to address the issues of literacy challenges and skill demands.
This year 2020, the theme of International Literacy Day focuses on – “Literacy, teaching and learning in the COVID-19 crisis and beyond especially on the sole of educators and changing pedagogies. The theme highlights literacy learning in a lifelong learning perspective and therefore mainly focuses on youth and adults.
Importance of Literacy in Human Life
Now, as we talk about literacy, we need to know its importance. Although education & literacy are two terms, which are used interchangeably. We must not forget that literacy is at the core of the ability to read and write. Some important points are like,
- Literacy is very important for economic development. A country’s economy is enhanced when leaders have higher literacy skills.
- Literacy opens up the door for employment and educational opportunities which help people to come out from the condition of extreme poverty and unemployment.
- Literacy helps us to communicate through reading and there is even a literacy day set aside by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to help promote the importance of literacy.
- There is no doubt that literacy is a fundamental tool to achieve success and further career opportunities and, on a whole, improve the quality of life individual and communities they live in.
- Having the skills to communicate, read, and write is vital for social and economic development. It allows individuals to expand their knowledge and understanding of society.
- Literacy is a fundamental human right and the basis for any individual’s ability to learn.
- It is essential for social and human development and provides individual the skills and empowers them to transform their lives, in turn, an improved standard of health and ability to earn a higher income.
In our increasingly complex and rapidly changing technological world, it is very important for us to expand our knowledge and learn new skills in order to cope up with the pace of change.
For example, in some African states where literacy rate is much below than the average, the people of these respective areas are carrying on with a helpless life. Therefore, they are still working as the slaves of other countries.
Nelson Mandela once said –
“Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.”
Indian Government with respect to Literacy
Government of all countries organize programs to create awareness in people about literacy. The government also forces people to get the necessary education and send their children to school.
Under National Literacy Mission govt. has launched numerous schemes to promote literacy. “Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan” was launched in the year 2001. The main aim of this was, those children between the age group of 6-14 years must join a school and complete the education, that is complete minimum of 8 years of school education.
Other than this, our previous prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh launched “Sakshar Bharat Abhiyan” and its main motto was to focus on education for women.
For women, our government also launched many schemes like – “Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya Yojana” and recently launched “Beti Bacho Yojana”.
These days basic literacy is very important & because of this our PM Narendra Modi is conducting “Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan” in which digital literacy will be promoted in rural areas free of cost.
Parents play a key role in the development of children, but if the parents are illiterate, they are not able to cope up with the needs of the new century and their children will have to suffer on they suffer. Such steps should be taken, that any child should not be deprived of going to school.
From a collective perspective, a literacy community is a dynamic community. A community that exchanges thoughts and ideas and is engaged in dialogue is much more innovative and productive.
Inspirational Quotes: International Literacy Day 2020
1. “To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelt out is a spark” – Victor Hugo
2. “In some parts of the world, students are going to school every day. But in other parts of the world, we are starving for education… it’s like a precious gift. It’s like a diamond.” – Malala Yousafzai
3. “Literacy is the fertilizer needed for development, and democracy to take root and grow.” – David Archer
4. “The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.” – Mark Twain
5. “The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.” – B.B king
6. “Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation.” – Walter Cronkite
7. “There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all.” – Jacqueline Kennedy
8. “Books are like the plane and the train, and the road…They is the destination and the journey. They are home.” – Anna Quindlen
9. “If you would tell me the heart of a man, tell me not what he reads, but what he rereads.” – Francois Mauriac
10. “One glance at a book and you hear the voice of another person, perhaps someone dead for 1,000 years. To read is to voyage through time.” – Carl Sagan
11. “Some say they get lost in books, but I find myself, again and again, in the pages of a good book. Humanly speaking, there is no greater teacher, no greater therapist, no greater healer of the soul, than a well-stocked library.” – L.R.Knost
12. “Reading, literacy and learning are fundamentally important to establishing strong and stable democracies. Visit your local public library and expand your mind.” – Jennifer Ritchie Payette
13. “Illiteracy also means not being able to read or write the words of a language you neither speak nor understand.” – Nkwachukwu Ogbuagu
14. “Literacy unlocks the door to learning throughout life, is essential to development and health, and opens the way for democratic participation and active citizenship.” – Kofi Annan
Summary: International Literacy Day 2020
This International Literacy Day is an occasion to give hope to the millions of women, men & children who cannot read or write even their own names. It is a timely remedy to the world about the importance of literacy for individuals’ families and the whole societies.
Whenever you get the change of teaching someone, teach. It will give you great fillings of satisfaction. If knowledge is the tool then literacy is surely the cutting edge that provides that tool to panache it needs.
So, today if you can read and write, celebrate this day & spread awareness among people about this day and further enhance it. Wishing you all a very International Literacy Day 2020. So, this is the detailed information about international literacy day.
Thanks for reading.
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FAQ on International Literacy Day 2020
1. Who is the founder of International Literacy Day?
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, created International Literacy Day in 1967.
2. When International Literacy Day is celebrated?
International literacy day is observed on 8th September every year to promote human attention towards literacy and know their rights for social and human development.
3. Why International Literacy Day is celebrated?
This day is celebrated to advance human consideration towards education and know their privileges for the social and human turn of events. As food is important to be alive and success the same literacy is also important.
It is effectively said that education can raise the family status. Along these lines, this day is praised to support the individuals towards getting continuous education and understand their responsibility for the family, society and the country.
4. What is the International Literacy Day slogan?
“Nothing about it interested me. Or about anything else, except making up stories. If literacy weren’t so nearly universal, God knows what I’d be. A drain on the State, I shouldn’t wonder.”
5. International Literacy Day in Hindi
साक्षरता अलग-अलग संदर्भों से संबंधित मुद्रित और लिखित सामग्रियों का उपयोग करके पहचानने, समझने, व्याख्या करने, बनाने, संवाद करने और गणना करने की क्षमता है।
अंतर्राष्ट्रीय साक्षरता दिवस प्रत्येक वर्ष 8 सितंबर को मनाया जाता है। इसका उद्देश्य विश्व साक्षरता दर में सुधार करने और इसकी चुनौतियों से निपटने के लिए व्यक्तियों, समुदायों और समाजों को साक्षरता के महत्व को उजागर करना है।
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