September 8th. International Literacy Day

Every year since 1967, on September 8 we celebrate International Literacy Day with the aim of remembering the importance of reading and writing as a basis for human rights. Despite the progress in this area, in 2020 there are still around 773 million adults who do not have the basic literacy skills that can guarantee their total autonomy in a society like ours.

Literacy is one of the Sustainable Development Goals within the framework of the 2030 Agenda. Specifically, Goal 4 includes the need to reduce the percentage of illiteracy among the adult population, as well as to ensure that all young people know how to read and write. Hence the importance of using this international day to sensitize the population about such a fundamental issue within educational issues.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=22&v=LZaqM69M7RM&feature=emb_logo

Unsurprisingly, this year’s International Literacy Day focuses on teaching and learning during the COVID-19 health crisis. In particular, it highlights the role of teachers and the evolution of pedagogies caused by the  sudden changes.

The celebration includes two virtual meetings organized by UNESCO that will take place today from 13:30 Spanish time. You can download the agenda and access the registration form through the UNESCO website.