Literacy Day 2024

 Imagine if you couldn’t read life-saving precautions such as the pandemic precautions, if you

couldn’t count the change you were given in a shop. Imagine if you couldn’t stay informed bout a

crisis, if you couldn’t spot fake news about alarming issues such as climate change. Imagine if you

were unaware of the developments happening around you and still be living the life of the

primates.

Today, at least, one in seven young people and adults around the world still lack basic literacy and

numeracy skills. That’s 763 million adults, two-thirds of whom are women. They are spread unevenly

across regions, countries, and populations. Equipping people with literacy, numeracy, and digital skills

can make a big difference in their lives and societies. It lays the foundation for further learning.

Literacy is also an essential means of environmental awareness, embracing cultural differences, and

practicing tolerance. It facilitates being an active member of society and contributing to protecting

our planet and upholding human rights. Ultimately it will contribute to more sustainable and

peaceful societies. But this is just one side of the story.

Development in different areas facilitates the promotion of literacy. More decent work

opportunities, improved well-being and health and lower risk of climate change create a better

environment in which people can get motivated to be literate, and learn, apple and advance literacy

and numeracy skills. As a powerful tool for empowerment and transformation, literacy should be

promoted as an integral part of this virtuous circle of literacy, sustainable development, and peace

but it can only be possible by paying special attention to those who have been left behind.

Since the COVID-19 crisis, inequalities have become even more striking. During the pandemic, Many

learning programs switched to online courses, making it impossible for a number of low-skilled

learners- who tend to lack access to digital technologies- to keep learning. In 2022, 70% of ten-year

old children in low and middle-income countries could not read and understand simple text. In 2019,

it was 57%. Around 30% of youths aged 15 to 24 in conflict or disaster areas lack literacy skills.

Literacy rates vary by state, with Kerala having the highest rate at 96.2%. Mizoram is also high at

91.58%, and other states with rates above the national average- 77.7%- include Delhi (93.7%),

Tripura (92.18%), Uttarakhand (94.3), Goa (92.81), Himachal Pradesh (92.9), Assam (90.1),

Maharashtra (90.7), Punjab (88.5%), and Odisha (84%). States with rates below the national average

include Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh.

Kerala’s high literacy rate is attributed to its emphasis on education, which began in the early 19th

century with the establishment of many schools and colleges. The state government has also

implemented educational programs and policies to ensure that every child receives quality

education.

This year’s theme “Promoting multilingual education: Literacy for mutual understanding and peace”

has been chosen aptly in order to overcome the language barrier in the way of understanding and

peace.

It’s high time to guarantee everyone’s right to literacy. We must all play our part and work together

to make literacy a reality for everyone, everywhere, for more sustainable, peaceful and developed

societies.