General Knowledge

World Literacy Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Books

In 1965, during the World Conference of Ministers of Education for the Eradication of Illiteracy in Tehran, the concept of a World Literacy Day was conceived.

World Literacy Day is observed annually on September 8. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the day is observed to remind the international community of the significance of literacy for individuals, communities, and societies, as well as the necessity of increased efforts towards a more literate society.

The background of World Literacy Day

In 1965, during the World Conference of Ministers of Education for the Eradication of Illiteracy in Tehran, the concept of a World Literacy Day was conceived. To combat global illiteracy, UNESCO designated September 8 as World Literacy Day on October 26, 1966. First celebrated in 1967, World Literacy Day has been an annual event for the past 50 years.

Since 1967, World Literacy Day has been celebrated annually to educate the public about the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and civil rights and to promote the literacy agenda for a more literate and progressive society.

The objective was to advocate literacy as a force that could empower not only individuals but also entire communities. It would also assist a great number of individuals worldwide in finding employment and bettering their circumstances.

While UNESCO has observed improvements in the literacy rates of minors, the same cannot be said for the adult population. Despite advances, illiteracy persists, with approximately 773 million people worldwide lacking basic literacy skills.

Literacy is a significant component of both the United Nations (U.N.) Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In 2015, this day was also designated as part of the Sustainable Development Goals programme of the United Nations. One of the objectives of Sustainable Development Goal 4 is to ensure that all young people acquire literacy and numeracy and that adults who lack these skills are permitted to acquire them.

Even during times of global crises, attempts have been made to discover alternate methods to preserve learning continuity, such as distant learning, which is frequently used in conjunction with in-person education. Nonetheless, literacy education opportunities are not always readily accessible.

The sudden transition to distance learning in the digital era reveals persistent disparities in infrastructure and skills required to use technology, as well as disparities in other services, such as energy availability, that limit learning opportunities.

5 FACTS ABOUT BOOKS THAT WILL STUN YOU

The term ‘Bibliosma’ refers to a passion for the aroma of books.

Bill Gates paid a jaw-dropping $30.8 million for the 1510 edition of Leonardo Da Vinci’s “Codex Leicester,” which retains the record for the most expensive book.

Founded in 565 A.D. at the foothills of Mount Sinai in Egypt’s Saint Catherine’s Monastery, the world’s earliest operational library houses the second-largest collection of manuscripts outside the Vatican City.

The “Bible,” “Chairman Mao Tse-Tung’s Quotations,” and the “Harry Potter” series are the three most extensively read works of literature.

The “Harry Potter” series by J.K. Rowling was rejected by 12 different publishers before Bloomsebury took it up.

WORLD LITERACY DAY DATES

Year Date Day
2023 September 8 Friday
2024 September 8 Sunday
2025 September 8 Monday
2026 September 8 Tuesday
2027 September 8 Wednesday
Arshiya Khan

Arshiya Khan is a Commerce graduate who loves to write on general and trending topics.

Recent Posts

Social Security September 2025: Payment dates for SSI and SSDI benefits explained

Social Security beneficiaries will receive SSI and SSDI payments on different September 2025 dates.Payment depends…

1 hour ago

VA Disability Payment Schedule: September 2025: When veterans can expect checks?

Veterans receiving VA disability benefits will see their September 2025 payments issued on the first…

1 hour ago

VA Chapter 35 Payment September 2025: When to expect the Payment?

Eligible dependents under the VA Chapter 35 (DEA) program receive monthly payments to support their…

1 day ago

San Francisco Minimum Wage 2025: How much workers must earn and how it compares across California

San Francisco’s minimum wage is set at $18.67 per hour in 2025, one of the…

1 day ago

Chapter 33 VA Benefits: Who qualifies for 50 percent of the GI Bill?

Veterans with at least 90 days but fewer than six months of active duty after…

1 day ago

Chapter 35 VA Benefits: Who Can Receive the Full $1,536 Monthly Payment?

The VA’s Chapter 35 Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance program offers up to $1,536 monthly.…

2 days ago