International Literacy Day

  Digital technologies permeate many spheres of life, changing the way in which we learn, live, work, interact and socialize, while impacting the well-being of our planet. Today, nearly seven out of ten people in the world (68%) use the Internet, and four out of five people aged 10 or older own a mobilephone . Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered applications have been swiftly adopted in many areas such as health care, transportation, and disaster management. In these rapidly changing digital landscapes , the importance of literacy cannot be emphasized enough. Literacy , on one hand, is a basis for digital skills and inclusive digital transition. It is essential for accessing and managing the exponential growth of information and knowledge and fundamental in becoming critical thinkers, responsible citizens, lifelong learners and agents of transformation. On the other hand, literacy is part of the phenomenonof digitalization which has redefined what it means to be literate in ...

  But are we equipped with the necessary literacy skills to benefit from digitalization ? Compared to half a century ago when nearly one out of four young people (aged 15-24) could neither read nor write, 93% of young people were literate in 2024 due largely to the expansion of formal basic education. However, one out of ten youth and adults (739 million) still lacked basic literacy skills , with disparities across regions, countries and populations, and especially affecting women and learners with various forms of vulnerabilities (e.g. poverty, disabilities). About 80% of them live in 31 countries targeted by the UNESCO-led Global Alliance for Literacy (GAL) . But these data based on self- or proxy-declaration are an underestimation. When skills are directly measured, 18% of adults in 31 developed countries lack the most basic levels of proficiency in literacy, numeracy and adaptive problem-solving . In these countries, adult literacy has actually stagnated or declined since 2012...

Digital Learning Week 2025 will take place in person at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France. All plenary sessions will be livestreamed in English and French to a global audience. The event aims to foster critical reflection, peer learning and policy dialogue, addressing today’s pressing challenges while shaping the future of education in an era of rapid technological change. It is expected to gather up to 1,000 participants, including 30 Ministers of Education, alongside digital education leaders, policy-makers, researchers and practitioners from various organizations, including UN agencies, governments, academia, NGOs and the private sector. Discussions will explore whether and how AI is disrupting education, navigate the complex dilemmas it presents, and identify strategic directions to harness its potential responsibly. The Digital Learning Week 2025 event spans four engaging days, including: Ministerial panels, multistakeholder dialogues and public lectures from global opinion le...