International Literacy Day 2024: Observations from Cameroon and India

Congratulations on International Literacy Day! This year the focus was on multilingual education and therefore deserves a blog post! Both Cameroon and India have a lot of linguistic diversity. UNESCO chose Cameroon to celebrate and here in India it will be good to take note of what the government said. As a national MLE consortium we also made a brief video to get the perspective of civil society organisations.

International Literacy Day (ILD) has been observed since 1967 on the 8th of September. This day highlights the importance of literacy as a fundamental human right and its role in empowering individuals and advancing societies. In 2024, the theme centres on "Multilingual Education," emphasising the significance of learning in one's mother tongue or multiple languages for inclusive and equitable quality education.

This year's theme resonates strongly with the goal of fostering linguistic diversity and promoting literacy in marginalised communities, particularly those in multilingual regions. By advocating for language-sensitive policies and educational frameworks, the 2024 International Literacy Day encourages efforts to close literacy gaps and support cultural diversity in education, thus contributing to sustainable development goals globally. Let us look briefly at how it was observed by UNESCO internationally and also in India as we look at the President’s address to the nation and the video of the MLE consortium.

International Literacy Day 2024: UNESCO’s Observance in Cameroon

In 2024, UNESCO commemorated International Literacy Day in Cameroon with the theme of "Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for mutual understanding and peace" to reflect the country's rich linguistic diversity. Cameroon, known for its multitude of indigenous languages, French, and English as official languages, embraced the theme to foster inclusive education.

The observance featured a series of workshops, discussions, and community events organised by UNESCO in collaboration with local governments and educational institutions. These activities aimed to raise awareness of the importance of multilingual education and literacy in mother tongues for national development. Educators, policymakers, and literacy advocates gathered to share best practices on how to integrate multilingualism in formal and informal education systems, especially in rural areas where literacy rates remain low.

Additionally, UNESCO's initiatives included the distribution of learning materials in local languages and the training of educators in multilingual pedagogies. The celebration also highlighted the role of literacy in empowering women, youth, and marginalised communities in Cameroon, aligning with global sustainable development goals of education for all. Through these efforts, UNESCO aims to strengthen the literacy infrastructure in Cameroon by leveraging its linguistic richness for more inclusive education. Also SIL Africa participated actively in these celebrations. (See also: Cameroon Tribune, UNESCO, UNESCO)

Focus on Multilingual Education on International Literacy Day 2024 in India

On International Literacy Day 2024, the Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar, emphasised the critical role of mother tongue in education, highlighting how it is the language through which we can truly express ourselves. He pointed out India's unique linguistic richness and called for the promotion of multilingual education as part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Dhankhar stressed that NEP is a game-changer that empowers youth by giving importance to all languages, helping them fully explore their talents. This multilingual approach is aimed at breaking down linguistic barriers and ensuring that language does not hinder anyone’s educational journey.(PIB, Times of India)

The video presented by the National Consortium for Multilingual Education – India, on International Literacy Day 2024, explored the theme "Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace." It highlighted the importance of multilingual education(MLE) in India, emphasising how it supports literacy, bridges cultural gaps, and empowers communities by valuing children's home languages. The speakers included experts on MLE such as Sunisha Ahuja (UNICEF India), Karsten van Riezen(Education Consultant SIL), Gauri Puranik(British Council), Mahendra Mishra(LLF), Shubir Shukla (IgnusERG), Geeta Verma(Care-USA) and Dhir Jhingran(LLF).

In conclusion, International Literacy Day 2024 has spotlighted the vital role of multilingual education in fostering inclusivity and bridging educational divides. This year’s focus on "Multilingual Education" underscores the importance of learning in multiple languages to ensure equitable access to quality education. UNESCO’s observance in Cameroon and India’s initiatives reflect a global commitment to leveraging linguistic diversity as a means to enhance literacy and support marginalised communities.

Regards,

Karsten, in Collaboration with Upasana Lepcha

Resources:

Photo Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwtGWcCItrY (Screenshot)

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International Literacy Day 2024: Observations from Cameroon and India