International Literacy Day brings to focus digital divide

AMMAN — This year’s International Literacy Day’s (ILD) theme “Literacy for a human-centred recovery: Narrowing the digital divide” focuses on the interplay of literacy and digital skills, required for a people-centred recovery. 

International Literacy Day, celebrated on September 8 since 1967, highlights the importance of literacy for society. 

“The COVID-19 crisis has disrupted the learning of children, young people and adults at an unprecedented scale. It has also magnified the pre-existing inequalities in access to meaningful literacy learning opportunities,” according to the UN website.

The UN website points out that there are currently 773 million young people and adults all over the globe that lack literacy skills.

A 2021 report by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organisation (ALECSO) stated that illiteracy among individuals aged between 15 and 24 in the Arab region reached 9,676,025 in 2019, most of whom are females.

The report also said that Jordan’s government expenditures in 2019 on education was only 3.07 per cent, proportional to the Kingdom’s gross domestic product. 

However, in 2020 the World Literacy Summit chose Jordan for its significant contribution to literacy.

In Jordan, the philosophy of education as described by the Ministry of Education “stems from the Jordanian Constitution and the Islamic Arab civilisation”.

During the pandemic crisis, the Jordanian government responded rapidly to the lockdowns and school closures in order to minimise learning losses, the World Bank website said.

“The quick actions taken by the Jordanian government to respond to educational needs and advance digital learning solutions could enable a swifter recovery for the country,” the World Bank said.

A basic knowledge of reading and writing are essential for navigating today’s world, Noor Manaseer, a Jordanian teacher, said.

“In times of a global health crisis, educational and literacy missions in all countries have suffered a setback. Therefore, this year all educators and teachers should fully comply with the government’s recommendations and decisions, to ensure quality learning,” Manaseer told The Jordan Times. 

“There is no better friend than education,” she added.

Dana Mohammad, a Jordanian primary school teacher, said: “It is very important to focus more on literacy skills that are needed in our digital-mediated world.” 

Technology is a powerful tool that can support the educational system in Jordan, she said.

“The pandemic was a reminder of the critical importance of literacy. Beyond its intrinsic value, literacy empowers individuals and improves their lives by expanding their capabilities to choose a kind of life they can value,” according to the UN.