The theme of this year's literacy day is “Reading the Past, Writing the Future”, to celebrate the efforts and progress made worldwide to increase literacy rates, and look to solutions for the future through innovation.

Literacy is a human right. Every individual should have access to education, as it is the bedrock of all progress and development. It gives people the power to improve their lives- their health, their interaction with their environment and their world, and their income. Also, literacy is the key to solving wider issues such as gender equality, poverty, mortality rates, peace, and good, sustainable governance. All these provide better living conditions for a healthy existence.

The world is changing into a society based on knowledge and technological ability. The new channels of communication, such as the internet, are now the center of social and political participation. Acquiring and honing the skills and knowledge necessary to participate on these platforms are crucial. Therefore, literacy is necessary to thrive. A literate society is one with so much potential to share ideas and grow exponentially.

It is important to afford children and youth the opportunity to be literate, and therefore be the facilitators of progress of their society. It is time to focus on young people, especially the girl child, and provide them quality and equitable education to facilitate lifelong learning, and to secure a brighter future. If every young person becomes literate, we achieve a world free of ilitteracy.

Happy International Literacy Day!