International Literacy Day 2020: Theme, History, and Significance of the day

International Literacy Day is celebrated every year on September 8 to raise awareness and worry for literacy issues that exist within our nearby communities as well as in the world.

It is seen on 8 September over the globe to advance and support the improvement of literacy and abilities, general admittance to quality education, and learning opportunities for the duration of individuals’ lives.

International Literacy Day spread awareness about the significance of literacy for people, communities, and societies and the requirement for escalated efforts towards more literate societies. It is important to raise awareness in the world of literary issues that are looked at by individuals and to support campaigns that help increment literacy for all individuals.

International Literacy Day 2020: Theme

The theme for 2020 is “Literacy teaching and learning in the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.” It features the particularly on the function of teachers and evolving instructional methods. The theme features literacy learning in a long-lasting learning viewpoint, and consequently, principally focuses on youth and adults.

The ongoing Covid-19 emergency has been a stark reminder of the current gap between policy discourse and reality: a gap that previously existed in the pre-COVID-19 period and negatively influences the learning of youth and grown-ups, who have no or low literacy abilities, and accordingly, will in the general face numerous disadvantages. During COVID-19, in numerous nations, grown-up literacy programs were missing in the initial education response plans, so most grown-up literacy programs that existed were suspended, with only a few courses proceeding virtually, through TV and radio, or in outdoor spaces.

By investigating these inquiries, International Literacy Day 2020 gives a chance to reflect and discuss how innovative and successful pedagogies and encouraging techniques can be used in youth and grown-up literacy programs to confront the pandemic and past. The Day will likewise offer a chance to analyze the role of educators, as well as formulate effective policies, systems, governance, and measures that can support educators and learning.

International Literacy Day: History

As indicated by UNESCO, around 774 million grown-ups do not have base literacy abilities. One out of five grown-ups is as yet not literate and 66% of them are ladies. Around 75 million kids are out-of-school and a lot more go to unpredictably or drop out. Be that as it may, literacy is additionally a reason for celebration on International Literacy Day because there are about four billion literate individuals in the world.

The UN General Assembly declared 10 years starting on January 1, 2003, as the United Nations Literacy Decade. The assembly additionally invited the International Plan of Action for the Decade and chose for UNESCO to play a planning role in exercises at a global level within the decade’s framework. On International Literacy Day every year, UNESCO helps the worldwide community to remember the status of literacy and grown-up learning globally. This day was first celebrated on September 8, 1966.

On 26 October 1966, UNESCO declared 8 September as International Literacy Day to battle overall issues of lack of education. The intention was to battle illiteracy as well as to advance literacy as a tool that could engage people as well as entire communities. Because of this numerous individuals around the world will get employment opportunities and will improve their lives. Do you realize that the possibility of an International Literacy Day was born at the World Conference of Ministers of Education on the annihilation of illiteracy held in Tehran in 1965? This day was likewise embraced as the aspect of the UN’s sustainable development goals program in 2015. The issue of literacy is a key component of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The UN’s Sustainable Development Agenda, received by world leaders in September 2015, elevates universal access to quality education and learning opportunities for the duration of individuals’ lives. Sustainable Development Goal 4 has as one of its objectives guaranteeing all youngsters accomplish literacy and numeracy and that grown-ups, who come up short on these skills are allowed the chance to obtain them.

International Literacy Day: Significance

UNESCO has been key to improve literacy worldwide and that is the reason advances International Literacy Day in partnership with governments, charities, nearby communities, and specialists in the field around the world. By adopting different themes each year wants to turn consideration on literacy in the entirety of its forms in a changing world. Almost certainly without literacy, we can’t make changes in the world and can’t improve our living being.

As indicated by UNESCO “Literacy is the best remedy” which is the way into one side for all to education. Likewise, we as a whole realize that UNESCO sustainable development goals prepare efforts to eradicate poverty and inequalities over the world, and improving literacy rates are an integral element. UNESCO additionally declares International Literacy awards; these are renowned prizes perceiving excellence and innovation submissions on the “Literacy and skills development” theme for 2018. With this further, the significance of International Literacy Day will be improved and advances awareness and relevance of literacy and grown-up learning.

Why is International Literacy Day celebrated?

International Literacy Day is celebrated to promote human consideration towards literacy and know their rights for social and human development. As the food is essential to be alive and achievement a similar literacy is additionally significant. It is an essential tool to destroy poverty, bringing down kid mortality, controlling populace development, achieving gender equality, and so forth. It is effectively said that literacy can raise family status. Thusly, this day is praised to encourage the individuals towards getting continuous education and comprehend their responsibility regarding the family, society, and the nation.

UNESCO keeps on play a main part in improving global literacy and promoting International Literacy Day with governments, communities, and so on. Through themes and a few programs, it intends to feature the role of literacy and skills development with regards to a changing world.

In nations everywhere on over the world, including the United States and the United Kingdom, International Literacy Day raises individuals’ awareness of and worry about literacy issues within their communities. Activities, for example, letters to the editor in newspapers, as well as news reports about the worries for low literacy levels, have happened because of this expanded awareness. Different activities incorporate literacy day projects, especially as to technology and literature, which are advanced by different associations including reading associations.