International Literacy Day being observed today

Islamabad: The International Literacy Day is being observed today in an effort to hasten educational progress and consider how literacy contributes to the creation of inclusive, peaceful, and sustainable societies.

'Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful communities' is the topic of the Day this year.

The significance of literacy in fields like health and education is highlighted on this day.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and its partners promote the day to underline the significance of literacy for healthy societies, with a strong emphasis on epidemics and communicable diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.

This raised awareness has led to activities like newspaper letters to the editor and news stories addressing the issues surrounding low reading rates. Other activities include literacy day projects, particularly those relating to technology and literature, which are supported by numerous groups, including reading associations.

Approximately 774 million adults lack the bare minimum of literacy abilities, according to UNESCO. Two thirds of adults (one in five) still lack literacy. Approximately 75 million kids are not in school, and many more attends sporadically or stop altogether.