To Read, To Write, To Count...

A thematic book exhibition " To Read, To Write, To Count...", dedicated to the International Literacy Day, is on show in the Documents of International Organizations Reading Room (room 207g) from September 7 to October 2.

This Day, declared on October 26, 1966 by delegates to the 14th session of the UNESCO's General Conference (Resolution 1.441), is celebrated annually on September 8 to remind people of the importance of literacy for people and society, as well as the need for further efforts to spread it.

Overcoming illiteracy is a key component of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as formulated in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This 15-year action plan, adopted by world leaders in September 2015, includes ensuring quality education for all and encouraging lifelong learning.

Education is one of the fundamental human rights, a means of expanding their freedoms and opportunities, and a tool for human development. Literacy is at the core of comprehensive basic education, which is essential to eradicate poverty, lower the population growth rate, achieve gender equality and ensure sustainable development, peace and democracy. Every citizen of our planet should have free access to education, but, unfortunately, there are many places on Earth where neither children nor adults have the opportunity to obtain proper education. Lack of schools, permanent wars, a way of life that prohibits people from studying, are all reasons behind the problem of illiteracy and the impossibility of getting an education.

According to UNESCO, despite significant improvement of education quality over the past 50 years, there are still 773 million illiterate adults in the world, and 617 million children and adolescents lack basic reading and math skills. For many children, young people and adults in school or other educational programs, the knowledge gained does not meet the required level of literacy in today's increasingly complex world.

International Literacy Day is widely celebrated in Belarus as well. Exhibitions, festivals, educational events are held in different cities of the country on this day. In our country, literacy problems have long been left behind: almost all adults can read and write. Data from the 2019 census suggest that Belarus is a republic of solid literacy There is full coverage of primary and general basic education. According to a study conducted by the National Statistical Committee in 2012, the literacy rate of adolescents and young people aged 15-24 in Belarus was 100%.

The exhibition presents about 80 documents in Russian, English and Belarusian. These are books, periodicals, mimeographed UN materials, brochures, booklets.

The following thematic sections are on display:

• Literacy and education for sustainable development. Decade of Education for Sustainable Development;
• Literacy and basic adult education promotion Life-long learning The decade of literacy: education for all;
• International and regional cooperation in the field of education The Bologna Process International Exchanges;
• Education system and its improvement in the Republic of Belarus

The exhibition will be of interest to specialists in the field of education, teachers of universities and secondary schools, students, as well as everyone interested in modern problems of education development.

Related links:
International Literacy Day
United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (A/RES/57/254)
Sustainable Development Goal 4: Inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.
UNESCO action: literacy for all
UNESCO International Literacy Prizes

Documents:
Incheon Declaration
Belém Framework for Action
The Dakar Framework for Action
The Hamburg Declaration on Adult Education
World Declaration on Education for All and a Framework for Action to Meet Basic Educational Needs
UNESCO Report Education for people and planet: Creating sustainable futures for all

References

The opening hours of the exhibition correspond to the library’s opening hours.
Admission is by the library card or by the Social and Cultural Centre ticket.

For more info: (+375 17) 293 27 34.

Official Documents Service Department