The United Nations (UN) International Literacy Day will be observed tomorrow, September 8, under the theme ‘Literacy and Sustainable Development’.

According to a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) report, “literacy 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.”

The report further states that literacy is a basis for lifelong learning and plays a crucial foundational role in the creation of sustainable, prosperous and peaceful societies. National Literacy Coordinator at the Ministry of Education Dr Andre Hill said that this year’s Literacy Day activities at the national level will be focus on teachers’ colleges. “The focus will be on pre-service teachers (students in college) and in-service teachers, those who are currently engaged in training the student teachers. We want to help them to embrace the message and to recognise and appreciate that our nation will advance, once they are actively involved in nation-building,” he said.

Teachers’ colleges within the six regions will host literacy symposia, exhibitions and plenary sessions, with ministry officials participating in various activities. “Jamaica’s future is predicated on the quality of its education system, therefore the target is to achieve 85 per cent literacy at the grade four level by 2015,” Dr Hill noted. Although the general activities for the day will be in keeping with the international theme, regions one and six have chosen to highlight the socio-economic concerns that exist amongst families and communities that impact negatively on students’ literacy. The modified will be ‘Literacy and Sustainable Development: A focus on family and community literacy’.

“We are also looking at literacy in the context of the home and community, and not just relegating it to the classroom. We want to encourage community members, guests and teachers to engage the children in a variety of literacy activities, such as reading aloud, discussions, poetry reading, and storytelling,” Dr Hill said.

The Ministry of Education, Region One, will launch activities for the day at the Mico University College, while other events will be held throughout the other regions. Highlights of the day’s activities in Region One include the Jamaica Reading Association Annual March from Nuttall Hospital to Mico University College on Marescaux Road. The aim of International Literacy Day is to highlight the importance if literacy to individuals, communities and societies. Each year UNESCO reminds the international community of the status of literacy and adult learning globally.