MANHATTAN: Since 1967, International Literacy Day (ILD) celebrations have taken place annually around the world to remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights, and to advance the literacy agenda towards a more literate and sustainable society.
Despite progress made, literacy challenges persist with at least 771 million young people and adults lacking basic literacy skills today.
Celebrations in 2022 Rapidly changing global context took a new meaning over the past years, hampering the progress of global literary efforts.
In the aftermath of the pandemic, nearly 24 million learners might never return to formal education, out of which, 11 million are projected to be girls and young women.
To ensure no one is left behind, we need to enrich and transform the existing learning spaces through an integrated approach and enable literacy learning in the perspective of lifelong learning.
This year’s International Literacy Day will be celebrated worldwide under the theme, Transforming Literacy Learning Spaces and will be an opportunity to rethink the fundamental importance of literacy learning spaces to build resilience and ensure quality, equitable, and inclusive education for all.
At the global level, a two-day hybrid international event will be organized on 8 and 9 September 2022, in Côte d’Ivoire.
The International Literacy Day global celebration lies at the heart of regional, country and local levels. As such, this year’s outstanding programmes and literacy practices will be announced through the 2022 UNESCO International Literacy Prizes award ceremony.
ISLAMABAD: Awareness Walk on World Literacy Day.
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Meanwhile, the Department of Literacy organised a function, in collaboration with UNICEF and JICA [Japan International Cooperation Agency], in connection with the World Literacy Day observance in Lahore.
Provincial Secretary for Literacy and Non-Formal Basic Education Department Wajihullah Kundi, addressing the ceremony, said that the economic and social development of any country was dependent on educated people.
He said that 10,000 brick-kiln workers’ children had been enrolled in schools by establishing more than 300 Non-Formal Education Institutions (NFEIs) at the brick-kilns.
He said the first-ever an adult literacy centre had been established at Railway Station Multan for the railways platform porters.
Shed schools had also been constructed in remote areas of Dera Ghazi Khan in collaboration with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the secretary said.
Literacy & Life Skills Programme (Agriculture & Livestock) has been introduced and facility of education was being provided to 900 learners with special abilities.
As many as 869 Non-Formal Education Institutes (NFEIs) have been established in Masajid and Madaris to impart primary level education to 29,136 children.
While 28 adult literacy centers (ALCs) had been established in Darul-Aman centers of the Social Welfare Department for 437 learners, added the secretary.
Wajihullah Kundi said that 700 children of gypsies/ nomadic communities were being imparted non-formal education through specially established 20 NFBE schools, and 59 adult literacy centres for minority communities for 933 learners.
He said that verification of 7,000 schools of BECS & NCHD had also been carried out, which were being merged from Federal Government to Literacy & Non-Formal Basic Education Department.
A first-ever literacy facility (boat school) for fishermen in Muzaffargarh was providing employment for more than 11,000 females of rural areas.
Moreover, 14 adult literacy center (ALCs) for gypsies/ nomads for 224 learners, six ALCs for transgender community for 97 learners, one ALC for transport workers/ drivers for 21 learners are also working currently, he added.
The secretary said the Literacy Department had developed customized curricula and syllabi for each age group and each social segment to make education more harmonized with the patterns of society.
The non-formal education was the most economical model of education for masses, he added. It costs monthly 250-300 per child.
Whereas formal school education costs the government above 3,000 per child monthly.
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