September 8 is International Literacy Day.
Literacy in the traditional sense means being able to read and write This is something that you might think everyone can do. However, there are many people in the world who do not know how to read and write and do not have the opportunity to learn how to read and write.
Here's a fact about adult literacy rates from the CIA World Factbook:
More than three-quarters of the world's 781 million illiterate adults are found in South and West Asia and sub-Saharan Africa; of all the illiterate adults in the world, almost two-thirds are women (2012). (Central Intelligence Agency).In 1965, to make people aware of literacy issues and needs, UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation) dedicated September 8 as International Literacy Day.
Take a look at this map and read this fact about youth literacy skills. This information is from the UNESCO website. (UIS is the UNESCO Institute for Statistics.)
According to new data released by the UIS, literacy rates for adults and youths continue to rise. Young women aged 15-24 are making the strongest gains, but still lag behind young men. ("International Literacy Data 2014").
Youth literacy rate, 2012 or latest year with data
Literacy among youth (aged 15 to 24 years) has risen steadily to 91% globally, thanks to better access to schooling for this generation. But in sub-Saharan African and South and West Asia, youth literacy rates are still just 70% and 84% respectively. ("International Literacy Day 2015").
One of the Division for Sustainable Development goals is to ensure that:
By 2030, all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy. (Division for Sustainable Development).
It is possible. Here's an inspiring video about how the Philippines improved their literacy rate. It's 2 mins and 34 seconds long. It's by the International Literacy Association.
Do your bit. This site International Literacy Day has ideas for how you can make a difference. (Click on the link and then scroll down.)
Works Cited
Central Intelligence Agency. "The World Factbook." Central Intelligence Agency. Ed. Central
Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, 2015. Web. 2 Sept. 2015. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2103.html>.
Division for Sustainable Development. "Transforming our
world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development." Sustainable Development. Ed. United Nations Department of Economic
and Social Affairs. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs,
2015. Web. 2 Sept. 2015.
<https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld>.
UNESCO Institute for Statistics. "International Literacy Data
2014." Data to make a difference.
Ed. UNESCO Institute for Statistics. UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 17 July
2014. Web. 2 Sept. 2015.
<http://www.uis.unesco.org/literacy/Pages/literacy-data-release-2014.aspx>.
- - -. "International Literacy Day 2015." Data to make a difference. Ed. UNESCO
Institute for Statistics. UNESCO
Institute for Statistics, 17 July 2014. Web. 2 Sept. 2015. <http://www.uis.unesco.org/literacy/Pages
/literacy-day-2015.aspx>.
Institute for Statistics, 17 July 2014. Web. 2 Sept. 2015. <http://www.uis.unesco.org/literacy/Pages
/literacy-day-2015.aspx>.
