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World Literacy Day

SA celebrates World Literacy Day

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 09:30

Nearly five million South Africans are totally illiterate. And, according to the Minister of Education, about 54% of the population have not completed an adequate level of education.

Marking the challenges still faced both in South Africa and abroad, World Literacy Day on Tuesday 08 September 2009 will create an opportunity for such issues to be addressed.

First declared in 1966, World Literacy Day serves to remind the international community of the importance of literacy and learning globally and, with both South Africa and the African continent struggling to eradicate illiteracy, 08 September has become a significant reminder of the need to overcome issues surrounding the basic tenets of reading and writing.

“95% of the world’s illiterate people live in developing countries,” comments Yvonne Chaka Chaka, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and literacy spokeswoman.

“As Africans we have monumental obstacles to overcome in terms of both reducing illiteracy and providing adequate education. 21 African nations have adult literacy rates below 50% and, in Sub-Saharan Africa alone, about 45 million children don’t go to school.”

Recent years have seen a number of initiatives formed to counter inadequate education and overcome illiteracy from the government, the private sector and non-profit organizations such as UNICEF.

UNICEF’s Schools for Africa programme, co-founded with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, aims to increase access to basic education for children throughout Africa whilst the SA government has also provided local support for SA’s illiterate adults through the Kha Ri Gude (‘Let us Learn’) programme, a mass literacy campaign which aims to reduce illiteracy by 50% by the year 2010.

A host of prominent celebrities have also pledged their support to tackling illiteracy, including screen sirens Sienna Miller, Susan Sarandon, Milla Jovovich, Lauren Hutton and Yvonne Chaka Chaka herself.

These celebrities are aligned with initiatives from the private sector, most notably the Montblanc Signature for Good campaign, run by luxury goods retailer, Montblanc.

Montblanc, which has a longstanding commitment to the culture of writing, recently released the Signature For Good Special Edition collection, a specially-designed range of writing instruments, jewellery and accessories of which part of the proceeds go to UNICEF’s Schools for Africa programme.

“Whether you are able to volunteer as an educator for Kha Ri Gude, donate directly to UNICEF or purchase a pen in support of literacy in Africa, we encourage South Africans to play a part in overcoming illiteracy and providing education,” notes Chaka Chaka.

“The culture of reading and writing is one of the oldest achievements of mankind and we need to ensure we provide these basic skills to those who need it most. A learning nation is a better nation.”