International Literacy Day 2023: Promoting literacy for a world in transition

Summary

This video highlights the critical importance of literacy, numeracy, and digital skills in empowering individuals and communities. Despite progress, over 760 million adults, especially women, remain illiterate, with many lacking access to education, particularly in low-income or conflict-stricken regions. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened these inequalities, especially with the shift to online learning. Literacy is not only essential for personal development but also vital for addressing global challenges like climate change and fostering societal peace. To create more sustainable and inclusive societies, it is crucial to ensure that no one is left behind in the pursuit of literacy.

Takeaways

• 😀 763 million adults, 2/3 of whom are women, still lack basic literacy and numeracy skills globally.
• 😀 Literacy, numeracy, and digital skills are crucial for personal empowerment, economic opportunities, and societal engagement.
• 😀 Inequalities in literacy are widespread, affecting different regions, countries, and populations unevenly.
• 😀 Literacy plays a key role in promoting environmental awareness, cultural tolerance, and human rights.
• 😀 Achieving literacy for all contributes to the development of more sustainable and peaceful societies.
• 😀 Literacy also leads to better health outcomes, more decent work opportunities, and lower risks of climate disasters.
• 😀 The COVID-19 pandemic worsened existing inequalities, as many low-skilled learners lacked access to digital learning tools.
• 😀 In 2022, 70% of 10-year-olds in low- and middle-income countries were unable to read and understand a simple text, up from 57% in 2019.
• 😀 30% of youths aged 15-24 in conflict or disaster areas still lack basic literacy skills, making them more vulnerable.
• 😀 Guaranteeing everyone's right to literacy is essential, and we must work together to ensure no one is left behind in the learning process.

Q & A

What is the importance of literacy, numeracy, and digital skills in today's world?

Literacy, numeracy, and digital skills are crucial because they empower individuals to understand and respond to life-saving information, manage finances, stay informed, identify misinformation, and engage in society actively. These skills are foundational for personal and societal development.

How many people globally still lack basic literacy and numeracy skills?

Approximately 763 million adults worldwide lack basic literacy and numeracy skills, with two-thirds of them being women. This issue is widespread across different regions, countries, and populations.

How does literacy contribute to environmental awareness?

Literacy is essential for increasing environmental awareness as it allows individuals to read, understand, and act upon issues like climate change. It helps people stay informed and make decisions that contribute to protecting the planet.

What role does literacy play in fostering tolerance and embracing cultural differences?

Literacy helps individuals learn about cultural differences, promotes understanding, and encourages tolerance. It plays a vital role in creating more inclusive and peaceful societies.

How does literacy contribute to more sustainable and peaceful societies?

Literacy contributes to sustainable and peaceful societies by enabling individuals to actively participate in social, economic, and environmental issues, promote human rights, and work towards collective well-being.

What are the benefits of promoting literacy as part of the sustainable development agenda?

Promoting literacy leads to more decent work opportunities, improved health and well-being, lower risk of climate disasters, and an environment that motivates individuals to pursue education and skills development.

Why should special attention be given to those who have been left behind in terms of literacy?

Special attention is needed for those left behind because inequalities in literacy and access to education have worsened, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Failing to address this gap hinders social and economic progress and exacerbates existing disparities.

How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact literacy programs?

The COVID-19 pandemic led to the shift of many learning programs to online platforms, which excluded a significant portion of low-skilled learners who lacked access to digital technologies, further deepening the literacy divide.

What statistic highlights the global challenge in children's reading comprehension?

In 2022, 70% of 10-year-old children in low- and middle-income countries could not read and understand a simple text. This was a significant increase from 57% in 2019, demonstrating a worsening challenge in literacy among children.

What is the literacy situation in conflict or disaster areas?

Around 30% of youths aged 15 to 24 in conflict or disaster-affected areas lack basic literacy skills, highlighting the severe challenges in providing education and literacy in such regions.