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The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) says 739 million adults lack basic literacy skills, two-thirds of whom are women.
The Director-General of UNESCO, Khaled El-Enany, made this known in his message on International Literacy Day 2026.
The day is marked annually on Sept. 8 as a reminder of the importance of literacy for creating a more peaceful and sustainable society.
2026 marks the 60th anniversary of ILD and it is celebrated with the theme: “Literacy for People, the Planet and Prosperity.”
El-Enany said that over the past decades, global efforts had driven significant progress.
He said that between 1975 and 2024, youth literacy rates increased from 75 per cent to 93 per cent, while adult literacy rates rose from 65 to 88 per cent.
According to him, this progress reflects the power of international cooperation from the 1965 Tehran Conference, which inspired the creation of the day, to the 2026 Conference in Chiapas, Mexico.
He, however, said that presently, 273 million children and youth were out of school, and 70 per cent of ten-year-olds in low and middle-income countries could not read and understand a simple text.
“These figures represent lost opportunities and potential, and the denial of a fundamental human right.
“Guided by the Strategy for Youth and Adult Literacy 2020-2029, UNESCO works to address these issues.
“With governments and partners, we expand access to education, strengthen public education systems and support community-based approaches,” El-Enany said.
He said that UNESCO placed gender equality at the forefront, accompanying countries to address gender norms, barriers and inequalities, focusing on reaching those most often left behind.
El-Enany said that as the information terrain expanded exponentially, UNESCO was also working to strengthen new forms of literacy.
“These include media and information literacy, Artificial Intelligence literacy, and misinformation and disinformation recognition, to ensure discernment and critical thinking online.
“On this milestone anniversary, let us renew our commitment to the work that lies ahead to harness the transformative power of literacy for people, planet and prosperity,” he said.
