Concept of Literacy
Literacy connects us from despair to hope. Let us promise to assist spread education in India and make a difference in someone’s life on this International Literacy Day. Literacy is a prerequisite for a person’s or a country’s progress. Countries with low literacy rates are economically failing and making slow progress. In the words of President Barack Obama,
“Literacy is the most basic currency in the knowledge economy.”
“Literacy is not just a cognitive skill of reading, writing, and arithmetic,” UNESCO Director-General Kofi Annan said in a message for International Literacy Day 2006. Meanwhile, Education is both a liberating and evolving force.
Illiteracy and poverty constitute a mutually reinforcing vicious cycle that is difficult to overcome and in the meantime perpetuates poverty and prevents individuals from accessing information, knowledge, and data, it is a problem. Five developing countries are making significant progress in improving youth education.
History: International Literacy Day
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) designated September 8th as International Literacy Day on October 26, 1996, at the 14th session of the UNESCO General Conference.
Every year on September 8th, UNESCO offers international literacy awards. The day is focused on technical, vocational, and digital skills that are essential for employment. It is to be notifiethere are 750 million still illiterate which is more than twice the population of the United States of America. One out of every five adults is illiterate, with women accounting for two out of every three. More alarming is the fact that 61 million youngsters do not attend school, with many more attending infrequently or dropping out.
The UNESCO Institute of Statistics, which works on behalf of UNESCO, maintains a list of nations by literacy rate, with estimates based on persons aged 15 and up who can read and write. At the present time, 86.3 percent of the world’s population is literate and the global learning rate for women is 82.7 percent, whereas the global literacy rate for men is 90.01 percent. The rate varies around the globe, with industrialized countries accounting for 99.2%, Oceania for 71.3 percent, South and West Asia for 70.2 percent, and Sub-Saharan Africa for 64.0 percent.
What is the significance of International Literacy Day?
Literacy is an essential instrument for eradicating poverty, reducing child mortality, limiting population increase, and achieving gender equality, among other things. True, literacy has the potential to improve a family’s position.
UNESCO continues to play an important role in promoting global literacy and increasing awareness of International Literacy Day among governments, communities, and other stakeholders. It strives to highlight the importance of education and skill development in the context of a changing world through various topics and programs.
International Literacy Day
Every year on September 8th, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announces International Literacy Day to raise awareness about the importance of schooling and education. Every year, the United Nations hosts conferences and seminars to promote education. All governments arrange programs and expeditions to raise education awareness among the general public. Governments compel citizens to obtain the requisite education and enroll their children.
School and college education workshops are frequently held, in which students deliver speeches. Parents have an important part in their children’s growth but illiterate parents are unable to cope so programs are conducted in which parents are told the importance to read and write. It must be ensured that no child is denied the opportunity to attend school. Their right to education is protected.
What is the significance of Education?
Reading and writing are essential skills for a child’s growth. Adults require the ability to read and write. Learning refers to the ability to comprehend and follow written instructions, locate information online or in books. It implies that a youngster or adult is capable of actively participating in their community.
Language skills are the foundation for successful education development. Education growth, in turn, improves and broadens oral language abilities throughout time.
Initiatives by the Indian government
Steps are taken by the Indian government to promote education. Education includes acts and articles specified in the Indian constitution. The Directive Principles of State Policy Article 45 specifies that primary education is free and compulsory. It is emphasized that minorities and the disadvantaged parts of society should have access to education. In 2009, the Right to Education Act was enacted by the Indian constitution under the freedom of rights clause.
Education is a fundamental right for all children according to RTE Act. In 2009, the Indian government created Saakshar Bharat. Its goal was to close the Education gap between men and women, encourage women to read, and reach 80 percent learning by 2012. The Indian government launched the Beti Bachao Beti padhao campaign to improve social services for girls, end female foeticide, and educate girls. The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan promotes primary education and the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan promotes basic education.
Conclusion
To summarise, Schooling serves as a stepping stone in achieving an education. Education includes learning. Education is a crucial metric for determining a country’s educational level. A literate guy should possess the values of education. The Indian government has made significant progress in educating the public by launching and implementing numerous initiatives. In recent years, the education rate has risen dramatically.
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