| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
International Literacy Day, 8 September 2003 |
|
According to recent estimates, there are approximately 862 million non-literate people in the world.
Although it may appear that no dent is being made in the global figures, adult literacy has in fact improved by 10 percentage points over the last 20 years, from 70 per cent in 1980 to 80 per cent in 2000.
This advance represents hundreds of millions of people who have gained access to literacy over that period. The continuing high numbers indicate the scale of the challenge remaining and of the need to make inroads into those parts of society where illiteracy is most deeply embedded.
International Literacy Day is a timely reminder that we should not take literacy for granted. It is also an occasion to applaud the work of literacy tutors, extension workers and volunteers whose patient and persistent efforts make such a difference to people’s lives.
Three major events will take place on International Literacy Day: the awarding of UNESCO’s 2003 Literacy Prizes; the Asia/Pacific launch of the UN Literacy Decade (2003-2012) and the official opening of the CONFINTEA Mid-Term Review. |
|
|
|
Print
........
