Digitisation has come to the centre stage, even as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) gets set to celebrate this year’s International Literacy Day (ILD).
The International Literacy Day (ILD) would be celebrated under the theme of “Promoting literacy in the digital era.”
The organisation affirms digitalisation has been changing ways in which the world learns, lives, works and socialises, in both positive and negative ways.
It added that while digital tools could help expand learning opportunities for marginalised groups, including 739 million young people and adults who lack basic literacy skills, this digital shift also risks creating double marginalization.
It explains the double marginalisation as exclusion not only from traditional literacy learning but also from the benefits of the digital age.
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“Digitalisation also raises other concerns, including privacy issues, privacy, digital surveillance, reinforced biases, ethics, the risk of passive consumption, and environmental impacts.
“Literacy is a key for making these transformations inclusive, relevant and meaningful. Beyond reading and writing on paper, literacy in the digital era enables people to access, understand, evaluate, create, communicate and engage with digital content safely and appropriately”, a UNESCO document on the literacy day celebration informs.
It adds that Literacy is also central for fostering critical thinking, discerning credible information and navigating complex information environments.
“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, programmes 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”, the organisation stated.
Cami Ezenwa is a Writer, Editor, Publicist, Biographer and Journalism Trainer
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