Carol Baldwin
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Wakaw Recorder
Horizon School Division shared that the theme of this year’s International Literacy Day “reminds us that literacy takes many forms, from books to e-readers, classrooms to online learning. Literacy empowers people of all ages and contributes to stronger, healthier communities.”
The digital age presents a mixed bag. UNESCO highlights real concerns, such as privacy breaches, digital surveillance, the spread of biased algorithms, seductive but passive consumption, and even environmental costs tied to technology. Yet simultaneously, there’s a bright side: digital tools can unlock doors for marginalized learners, for communities, and for educators reimagining learning.
“Promoting literacy in the digital era”…the theme of International Literacy Day means literacy must evolve with the digital world, or it risks becoming obsolete, says Chimezirim Bassey, a Software Developer, based in the United Kingdom. His editorial, “UNESCO: International Literacy Day 2025 — Promoting Literacy in the Digital Era,” appeared in NaijaEyes, an online presence focusing on life in Nigeria. (https://naijaeyesblog.com/education/unesco-international-literacy-day/) As of 2021, Nigeria had an adult literacy rate of only 63 percent.
Literacy is not like riding a bike. While Canadians tend to leave high school with these skills, it takes practice to retain them. Poor reading, writing and numeracy skills in adults make up a literacy gap in Canada with consequences for both democracy and the economy. Experts say the gap is due in part to an abundance of jobs in the past that did not require the daily use of reading comprehension and information synthesis skills.
Low literacy presents a significant challenge, particularly when it comes to understanding the information necessary for making informed decisions, including in the democratic process. According to a CBC article published on January 17, 2021, 49 percent of the Canadian population does not achieve a literacy level that enables them to “disregard irrelevant or inappropriate content” when trying to accurately answer questions based on what they have read. On the internet, there is an abundance of misleading information that can lead individuals to make poorly informed decisions. (https://www.cbc.ca/radio/costofliving/let-s-get-digital-from-bitcoin-to-stocktok-plus-what-low-literacy-means-for-canada-s-economy-1.5873703/nearly-half-of-adult-canadians-struggle-with-literacy-and-that-s-bad-for-the-economy-1.5873757)
International Literacy Day is observed annually on September 8 to raise public awareness about the significance of literacy for personal dignity, human rights, and societal development. It serves as a reminder and a call to action for governments, communities, and organizations to strengthen their efforts in promoting and expanding literacy initiatives around the world.
Currently, globally, one in five adults is still not literate, with two-thirds of them being women. Despite progress made worldwide, over 700 million youths and adults lacked basic literacy skills as of 2024. This situation highlights that the journey toward universal literacy, encompassing broader knowledge, skills, values, attitudes, and behaviours, is far from complete.
As digitalization continues to transform how we learn, live, work, and socialize, this year’s theme encourages critical reflection on the current definition of literacy. It emphasizes the importance of how literacy teaching and learning programs and policies are designed, managed, and monitored in this digital era. UNESCO also points out a concerning reality: nearly one in ten people worldwide lacks basic literacy skills. The inability to navigate the digital world exacerbates their exclusion, a phenomenon UNESCO refers to as “double marginalization.”
“While digital tools can help expand learning opportunities for marginalized groups, including the 739 million young people and adults who lack basic literacy skills, this digital shift also risks creating double marginalization – exclusion not only from traditional literacy learning, but also from the benefits of the digital age. Digitalization also raises other concerns, including privacy issues, digital surveillance, reinforced biases, ethics, the risk of passive consumption, and environmental impacts,” UNICEF states.
“On 8 September, ILD2025 will celebrate progress in literacy at the global, regional, national and local levels. It will be an opportunity for critical reflection on what literacy means today, and how literacy teaching and learning, programs and policies are designed, managed and monitored in this digital era. In addition, ILD2025 will spotlight effective policies and interventions that promote literacy as a common good and a human right – and as a lever for empowerment and transformation to build more inclusive, just and sustainable societies,” it added.
Recognizing the transformative power of literacy in creating a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world, UNESCO declared International Literacy Day during its 14th General Conference on October 26, 1966. At that time, over half of the world’s population was illiterate, and literacy was viewed as a significant barrier to social mobility and growth. Since 1967, this day has been observed globally each year.
Over the past nearly 60 years, International Literacy Day has evolved into a platform for evaluating progress, addressing challenges, and advocating for international action. Since the inception of this observance, there has been a notable increase in literacy rates; currently, more than 86 percent of people worldwide can read and write. However, millions still lack access to basic literacy education, particularly women and marginalized communities.
Literacy goes beyond the ability to read and write; it is crucial for social advancement, equality, and access to opportunities. An educated citizenry correlates with better health outcomes, economic growth, and stronger democracies. To promote education on this day, governments, non-governmental organizations, schools, and international bodies organize seminars, literacy drives, community reading events, and various campaigns.
UNESCO’s theme for 2025 encourages us to view literacy as more than just the ability to read and write on paper. It emphasizes the importance of being able to access, understand, evaluate, create, communicate, and engage with digital content safely and critically. In today’s world, digital literacy serves as a powerful form of empowerment, allowing individuals to discern fake news and utilize online services effectively. Our challenge is to ensure that these digital tools foster inclusion rather than exclusion. UNESCO’s approach reminds us that literacy now encompasses critical thinking skills: the ability to identify credible information, evaluate content, and use digital tools thoughtfully.
