Literacy vital for democratic, social, and economic development
To mark the 50th anniversary of International Literacy Day, governments and organisations around the world are mobilising to promote literacy as an instrument to empower individuals, communities, and societies.
In light of this year’s theme, “Reading the Past, Writing the Future”, UNESCO has reiterated that literacy is an essential element of Sustainable Development Goal 4. This aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”. The vision of literacy is aligned with lifelong learning opportunities with special focus on youth and adults.
EI: Importance of free, compulsory, public education
An important aspect of the right to education is literacy and basic education, says Education International (EI) General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen. “Governments the world over must increase their investments in education in order to guarantee education for all and to eradicate illiteracy,” he added.
The only long-term action that will eradicate illiteracy is the provision of high quality, free and compulsory education for all children, he stressed. Regrettably, in several countries globally, more than half of the population is illiterate. Many of these countries are among the poorest countries in the world.
“To be literate is a prerequisite for participation in today's world,” van Leeuwen said, noting that literacy makes it easier for individuals to fulfil their obligations as citizens in a democracy and to fight for and demand their rights.
Governments also have a crucial role in remedying the imbalance where groups such as migrants, Indigenous Peoples, ethnic minorities, nomads, rural and remote areas’ populations have had fewer opportunities to receive education compared with other groups in society, he said.
Literacy and women’s empowerment
Literacy is not just a prerequisite for democratic development and economic growth. It is also significant in the empowerment of women in society, van Leeuwen highlighted, adding that the estimated world-wide literacy rate is still lower for women than for men (71 percent compared with 84 percent).
Governments must take measures to improve the enrolment of girls in basic education. And they must ensure that adult education plays an important role in providing women who received insufficient or no education during their childhood with the opportunity to improve their education. Research shows that there is a direct correlation between increased literacy rates among women are increased and the quality of healthcare in the community.
