The International Literacy Day is celebrated around the globe each year on September 8. The theme for 2009 is “The Power of Literacy”.
It highlights the importance of literacy internationally, and how it has developed countries, communities and individuals. Literacy also develops the human personality, strengthens respect for people’s rights and promotes understanding, tolerance and friendship amongst individuals.
The Pacific definition of literacy, which was formulated in 2006 by regional bodies with UNESCO and UNICEF, is “knowledge and skills necessary to empower a person to communicate through any form of language of their own society, with respect to every day life.”
Literacy rate refers to the total percentage of the population of an area at a particular time, aged seven years or above, who can read and write with understanding.
However, International Literacy Day focuses on reducing illiteracy in society and initiatives by governments to solve this problem.
The 2008 Global Monitoring Report reveals that 774 million adults are still illiterate. Although Fiji has attained a literacy rate of 92.9 per cent, there is still work to be done to ensure that we attain a 100% literacy rate.
In its efforts to reduce illiteracy in the country, the Education Ministry has embarked on some notable programs and projects.
The Fiji Islands Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (FILNA), the enforcement of the 12 years of compulsory education and the assistance given to schools in the form of grants are amongst the many programs and projects that the Ministry is pursuing.
The Ministry hopes that all these will assist in further elevating our national literacy level to greater heights in the years to come.
Filipe Bole
Minister for Education, National Heritage, Culture and Arts, Youth and Sports, Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment.