International Literacy Day: AASU’s View

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AASU Logo
AASU Logo

The 2014 International Literacy Day is under the theme: ?Literacy and Sustainable Development?. ?The Day, September 8, was proclaimed by UNESCO on November 17, 1965 and was, first, celebrated in 1966. The Day is aimed at highlighting the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies according to UNESCO. Literacy, according to the experts, is one of the key elements needed to promote sustainable development, as it empowers people so that they can make the right decisions in the areas of economic growth, social development and environmental integration.?Literacy is a basis for lifelong learning and plays a crucial foundational role in the creation of sustainable, prosperous and peaceful societies, they added.

Unfortunately Africa, in particular Sub-Saharan Africa, is, once again, lagging behind in this area too with an adult literacy rate of 59.7% making it the second lowest rate in the World after South and West Asia with 58.6%. However countries with the lowest literacy rates in the world are in Africa and they include Burkina Faso (12.8%), Niger (14.4%) and Mali (19%). According to UNESCO there are approximately 26 percent of non-literate adults in the world, the women making up two-thirds and 98 percent of them live in developing countries.

We cannot achieve sustainable development with a significant segment of our societies being non-literates. This is because literacy is a tool of personal empowerment and a means for social and human development. It is essential for eradicating poverty, reducing child mortality, curbing population growth, achieving gender equality and ensuring sustainable development, peace and democracy, in the words of the experts.

Considering the importance of literacy, therefore, for our socio-economic and cultural development, it is imperative for African Governments to redouble their efforts in the fight against illiteracy by being committed and having a collective approach to combat the problem.

AASU calls on all its member and friendly organizations to consider literacy awareness campaigns as a priority and embark on networking for wider connectivity among them and to develop strategies to combat efficiently and effectively illiteracy on the continent.

AASU demands for more attention and resources to be accorded to the promotion of literacy in the world particularly in the African continent. African Governments should endeavour to curb corruption and rather make sure that their people are knowledgeable in order to achieve sustainable development, peace among others.

Long live International Literacy Day!

Long live International Solidarity!

AWAAH FRED

(Secretary General)?

[email protected]/[email protected]/ 00233 (0)243101626

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