175 million adolescents unable to read – UNESCO

The Director-General of UNESCO, Ms Irina Bokova, on the occasion of the World Book and Copyright Day said there was need for the fight against illiteracy to be included as a crucial ingredient of the Sustainable Development Goals to follow in 2015. She identified literacy as the door to knowledge which is essential to individual […]

The Director-General of UNESCO, Ms Irina Bokova, on the occasion of the World Book and Copyright Day said there was need for the fight against illiteracy to be included as a crucial ingredient of the Sustainable Development Goals to follow in 2015.
She identified literacy as the door to knowledge which is essential to individual self-esteem and empowerment.
She said UNESCO was committed to harnessing information and communication technologies, especially mobile technology, to support literacy and reach the unreached with quality learning.
The director praised the role played by books in achieving that objective, adding: “We must redouble efforts to promote the book, the pen, the computer as well as promoting all forms of reading and writing culture to fight illiteracy and poverty.”