The impact of the COVID19 pandemic on all branches of learning has been massive. This was also visible through the silent world literacy day celebrations. The struggle to keep up is visible among all sections, from Kindergarten to Post-graduate students. As India inches closer to her seventh month as a partially closed down nation, there is little to celebrate.
While India’s literacy rate has remained a cause of worry for decades now, the current pandemic has generated new problems. These may contribute to further deterioration of literacy numbers, as the picture, particularly in rural India seems bleak. However, at the same time a ray of hope appears in the form of digital India initiatives. It is essential to acknowledge the determination with which the Indian teaching fraternity and the government has taken to combating dropout rates and literate sections of society that were previously unreachable.
The World Literacy day theme for 2020 is ‘Literacy teaching and learning in the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.’ People of repute from all walks of life have tweeted messages urging communities to understand the importance of literacy and it’s role in strengthening a nation.
A brief overview of who said what :
UN Women
Educate a girl, change the world.
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This #LiteracyDay, join @Malala in advocating for the right to education!pic.twitter.com/CuUgwhFMVS— UN Women (@UN_Women) September 8, 2020
Ministry of Education
“There can be no joy greater than reading and no friend greater than knowledge” Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi
On this #InternationalLiteracyDay, we promise to work towards achieving 100% literacy by complying with the reforms within the #NationalEducationPolicy2020. #ShikshakParv pic.twitter.com/9A0D7euVyl— Ministry of Education (@EduMinOfIndia) September 8, 2020
Home Minister Amit Shah
Greetings on International Literacy Day.
Our govt under the visionary leadership of PM @NarendraModi has been empowering the children and working tirelessly towards its mission ‘Education for All’ through reforms like NEP, Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan etc.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) September 8, 2020
Former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje
As the bedrock for all learning, literacy is essential for the growth of communities.
I commend teachers and parents for going above and beyond to ensure children continue to learn despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.#WorldLiteracyDay pic.twitter.com/YdZ9H9RNr7
— Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) September 8, 2020
MLA and former Actor Hema Malini
Today on #InternationalLiteracyDay, let us all take a pledge to stand by & support the ‘Padhna Likhna Abhiyan’ of @NarendraModi government aimed at achieving the goal of ‘Total Literacy by 2030’.
— Hema Malini (@dreamgirlhema) September 8, 2020
