Empowering Minds, Safeguarding Futures: Celebrating Literacy and Protecting Education
09 September 2024 – Students And Youth Working on reproductive Health Action Team (SAYWHAT) joins the global community in celebrating International Literacy Day and the International Day to protect Education from Attack emphasizing the interconnected roles literacy and protection of education have in shaping the future.
International Literacy Day is celebrated on the 8th of September 2024 under the theme “Promoting multilingual education: Literacy for mutual understanding and peace”. While the International Day to protect Education from Attack is celebrated on the 9th of September 2024 under the theme “safeguarding education and places of learning, protecting students and teachers, and hold accountable perpetrators of attacks on educational institutions”.
SAYWHAT recognizes that many countries including in Southern African region has made progress regarding literacy rates. UNESCO reports that in Sub-Saharan Africa, adult literacy rates from the age of 15 rose from 64% to 69% between 2015 and 2023. We acknowledge that prioritization given to Sustainable Development Goal 4 – Quality Education during this timeframe contributed significantly to the rise in literacy rates.
Nonetheless, despite the increase in literacy rates, the world is still facing some big challenges in education. UNESCO further report that the number of illiterate young people and adults in Sub-Saharan Africa from the age of 15 grew from 193 million to 217 million due to population growth. SAYWHAT also recognize that beyond population growth, emerging issues for instance the scourge of drug and substance abuse, climate change, and the emergence of Artificial Intelligence and digital technology are contributing to the challenges faced in Sub-Saharan Africa in educating young people with 3 out of 10 people lacking basic literacy skills as of 2023.
We have made progress but more still need to be done to achieve quality education and improve literacy rates especially among young people. Literacy empowers children, adolescents, students and youth with the skill they need to participate fully in society. Literacy enables young people to access information, understand their rights, reduce inequalities, and more likely to secure jobs, and contribute to economies breaking the cycle of poverty.
SAYWHAT calls upon world leaders to continue prioritizing quality education for a better present and to safeguard the future. This September, as world leaders gather at the Summit of the Future to forge a new international consensus on how we deliver a better present and safeguard the future, priority must be given to quality education.
As we commemorate Literacy Day, and protection of education, SAYWHAT echoes the voices of students and youth across the SADC region who, at the 5th edition of the Southern African Regional Students and Youth Conference (SARSYC V) in Gaborone, Botswana (July 2024), called upon SADC member states to take immediate action to push for the continuation of Education as a critical component of the Pact for the Future. Removal of Education from the successor framework to the Sustainable Development Goals is a threat to the future of young people.
As a youth-led organisation, SAYWHAT will continue advocating for quality education. We take this opportunity to remind governments and leaders that literacy is not just about reading and writing, it is the cornerstone of empowerment enabling young people to engage fully in society and advocate for their rights. Literacy improves health outcomes by enabling young people to understand health information, make informed decisions, and access health care services. It fosters critical thinking, problem-solving and the ability to adapt to changing environments which are crucial for addressing global challenges such as climate change. By prioritizing quality education, we set the foundation for a healthier future.
It is imperative that governments allocate at least 20% of national budgets to education, ensuring that marginalized learners receive the support they need, in line with the Maputo Declaration. We urge governments to implement policies that prioritize education inclusion and invest in the necessary infrastructure to support quality education for all. We believe that every young person, regardless of their background, deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to a more equitable society.
SAYWHAT remains committed to empowering students and youth to harness their literacy skills to address health and educational challenges in their communities. We will continue to advocate for inclusive policies and programs that ensure access to quality education for every young person. We will celebrate young innovators who are using their literacy skills to create positive change. Highlighting their successes, inspiring others, and demonstrating the tangible benefits of investing in education. We believe in a future where literacy is celebrated, education is prioritized, and every young person can thrive as an informed and engaged member of society.
Leave a Reply