Why we celebrate International Literacy Day?
The 51st International Literacy Day (ILD) is being celebrated throughout the world today. This year, the theme announced by UNESCO, is `Literacy in a digital world’. India too celebrated the day by organising a programme where Saakshar Bharat awards were distributed to the best performing states, districts, gram panchayats and NGOs.
Since 1988, the National Literacy Mission Authority in India celebrates this day. The eradication of illiteracy has been one of the major national concerns of the government of India since independence. The occasion of ILD is used for raising public awareness to eradicate illiteracy and create environment in favour of adult education programmes.
In 1965, the world congress of ministers of education met in Tehran on September 8, for the first time to discuss the programme of education at the international level. The UNESCO in its 14th session in November 1966, declared September 8 as the International Literacy Day. Since then, ILD is celebrated on this day every year by most of the member countries. The key aspect of the observance of ILD is to mobilise public opinion in favour of struggle against illiteracy.
ILD is a forum to disseminate information on literacy and raise the public awareness and the significance of literacy for individual and national development.
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