World literacy day is celebrated worldwide on 8th of September. This year, The theme is Promoting literacy in the digital era. The organization that is responsible for celebrating the day is United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The day is the result of a conference to eradicate illiteracy in 1966. It is constituted to raise global awareness about the importance of literacy for individuals and communities.

A global conference will take place on 8 September at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France. 

Goal of the International Literacy Day:

The main aim of this day is to raise global awareness about the importance of literacy as a human right and a fundamental tool for personal and societal development. Furthermore, this is a reminder for policy-makers and practitioners, and the public of the critical importance of literacy for creating more literate, just, peaceful, and sustainable society. 

Why literacy is necessary among people of different origin or society:

Literacy is more than just the ability to read and write. Here are some points why literacy is a must thing for every existing human:

• Literacy supports learning – Literacy supports learning by providing the essential foundation for critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication. Strong literacy skills make you more knowledgeable. You get to know a lot that surrounds you. For example, by adapting knowledge about earlier history, one gets to know the how something is in existence today.

• Literacy supports health and well-being – This is one of the most important points to consider why literacy is important. To get the knowledge about what to eat, how to eat, and when to eat, people can avoid most of the cases of being unhealthy. Moreover, there are various types of methods and recipes for fit and healthy body, so if one get to learn these, they can gain more lessons to be healthy. Furthermore, people can seek medical help with the support of literacy.

• Managing personal wealth – In rapidly changing environment of the economy, it is a must to know to manage wealth effectively for every individual. There are lots of terms related to one’s income and not knowing these will affect his disposable income too. For instance, there are terms like tax, invoice, GST, investment, shares, and more.

• Literacy is basic human right – It is a fundamental human right that empowers individuals to participate in the society without ignorance of their rights. Without literacy, lots of people denied access to sanitation, education, use of public properties, healthcare.

• Literacy empowers individuals – It also empowers people to uplift their status in a community. Being literate allows people to make informed decisions. Literacy enables self-sufficiency and promotes dignity.

• Literacy drives economic growth – There is a direct connection between Literacy and economic growth. Economists and law-makers constitute policies, and of course it is because they have knowledge. They execute plans because they know how to use their literacy.

• Literacy strengthen Democracy – Literate citizens are more likely to engage in civic life, from voting to community organizing. Literacy fosters critical thinking, media literacy, and the ability to analyse information – all vital skills in the age of misinformation.

Conclusion:

Overall, the international literacy day is an important day to remind the authorities and to the people about importance of education around the world. #worldliteracyday