Support For literacy Day

We need to do more to support Literacy Says Carl Sargeant AM
This coming Tuesday will mark International Literacy Day. On September 8, the nation and the world will celebrate International Literacy Day, a declaration first proclaimed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1965. On International Literacy Day each year, UNESCO reminds the international community of the status of literacy and adult learning globally. Despite many and varied efforts, literacy remains an elusive target: some 776 million adults lack minimum literacy skills which means that one in five adults is still not literate; 75 million children are out-of-school and many more attend irregularly or drop out. International Literacy Day will put the spotlight on the empowering role of literacy and its importance for participation, citizenship and social development. Literacy and Empowerment is the theme for the 2009-2010 biennium of the United Nations Literacy Decade. Carl Sargeant AM for Alyn & Deeside said “We must not underestimate the power of the ability to speak, read and write effectively. Some people find it difficult to access support for such things that most people take for granted. Across the world over 75 million children are out of school. We can all do a little to support the learning process.”