Education brings sustainability to all the development goals: UNESCO chief

09 September, 2012

Established by UNESCO, the International Literacy Day (ILD), was celebrated globally on September 8. The theme this year was 'Literacy and Peace' meant to demonstrate the multiple uses and value that literacy brings to people.

"EDUCATION BRINGS sustainability to all the development goals, and literacy is the foundation of all learning,” said Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director General on the occasion of ILD-2012.

Literacy provides individuals with the skills to understand the world and shape it, to participate in democratic processes and have a voice, and also to strengthen their cultural identity, she added.

According to the UN, literacy contributes to peace as it brings people closer to attaining individual freedoms and better understanding the world, as well as preventing or resolving conflict.

Furthermore, UN feels that the connection between literacy and peace can be seen by the fact that in unstable democracies or in conflict-affected countries it is harder to establish or sustain a literate environment.

According to UNESCO, literacy is a human right, a tool of personal empowerment and a means for social and human development. And, a good quality basic education equips pupils with literacy skills for life and further learning.