Why in News
International Literacy Day (ILD) is observed every year on 8 September around the world. The day reminds governments, organisations and people about the importance of literacy in building a more just, peaceful and sustainable society.
Key Highlights
- International Literacy Day has been observed on 8 September since 1967.
- The day was proclaimed by UNESCO in 1966 during the 14th session of its General Conference.
- International Literacy Day marks its 60th anniversary. The theme for this year is “Literacy for people, the planet and prosperity.”
- Literacy is considered a fundamental human right and helps people gain knowledge, skills and greater opportunities.
- Despite progress, at least 739 million youth and adults worldwide still lacked basic literacy skills in 2024.
- Around 4 in 10 children are not achieving the minimum level of reading proficiency.
- In 2023, around 272 million children and adolescents were out of school.
