By Kielce Gussie
Sep 8 marks International Literacy Day (ILD). Started in 1967, the day serves as a reminder to world leaders, policy-makers, and the public of the “critical importance of literacy for creating more literate, just, peaceful, and sustainable society.”
As a fundamental right for everyone, literacy is a gateway that enables people to enjoy other human rights, more freedoms, and global citizenship.
Literacy in the digital era
This year’s theme is “Promoting literacy in the digital era”, which is focused on keeping literacy as a crucial part of the technological landscape. UNESCO releases a fact sheet for the 2025 Literacy Day, highlighting that the importance of literacy reaches beyond traditional paper-based writing and reading. Rather, “it now serves as a foundation for digital skills, safe and critical engagement with digital texts and tools, and an inclusive digital transition.”
The digital world has transformed literacy policies and programs and how they are implemented. ILD 2025 will look at the challenges, opportunities, and solutions for promoting literacy in the digital world.
A work-in-progress
Between 2015 and 2024, literacy rates among adults (people aged 15+) rose slightly from 86% to 88%. Central and Southern Asia are the two regions with the fastest progress, where adult literacy grew from 72% to 77%. Sub-Saharan Africa also saw an increase from 65% to 69%.
In 2024, the global youth (people aged 15-24) reached 93% — which showed a growth in basic education. Yet, UNESCO reports that progress “remains inadequate and uneven” as 739 million adults still lacked basic literacy skills in 2024.
A census taken from 2015-2024 reveals more than half of the world’s illiterate adults – 441 million people – is found in just 10 countries around the world. UNESCO argues the consistent gaps in literacy rates limit the opportunities and “reinforce social and economic inequalities, especially for women, older adults and marginalized people.”
Literacy is part of the toolbelt for life
In this technologically-driven world, literacy remains an essential part of life. It gives everyone a chance to fully participate in the digital world. More than giving people access to the internet, being literate enables users to think critically and navigate the “information-rich society and economy in a safe, effective and responsible manner.”
But UNESCO explains not everyone has the tools to confront the digital world and many teachers feel unable to instruct students on how to navigate new technologies. About half of the world’s countries have standards for helping teachers become acquainted with skills to teach students.
Without these literacy skills, UNESCO warns it is more difficult for people to “face of disinformation and misinformation.” However, the challenge remains that “adequate and sustainable funding is a key to building more literate, inclusive, sustainable and peaceful societies.” UNESCO surveyed 102 countries and 57% of them set aside less than 4% of their national education budgets to literacy and education—“highlighting persistent underinvestment in this critical area.”
International Literacy Day hopes to promote a shift to allocating more money to fund better education and more resources to people, so that, in this ever-growing technologically-driven world, people will have the tools and skills to not only live but thrive. – Vatican News
