As the globe commemorates World Literacy Day on Monday , September 8, experts have stressed the need to maximize the use of technology in promoting literacy in this digital era.
The day is celebrated to remind policy-makers, practitioners, and the public of the importance of literacy for creating a more literate, just, peaceful, and sustainable society.
Literacy is a means for people to acquire broader knowledge, skills, values, attitudes, and behaviors to foster a culture of lasting peace based on respect for equality and non-discrimination.
Speaking on the theme of this year’s observance Promoting Literacy in this Digital era, a senior lecturer in media studies, University of Port Harcourt, Dr Moses Asak said promoting literacy in this digital era requires adapting to and using the very tool that defines the time.
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A writer, Dr Wellington wogu who described education as light, power and strength, however, highlighted some challenges faced by learners in the course of learning.
In the same vein, a resident Elijah Adol opined that the emergence of Artificial Intelligence has drastically reduced the belief in the traditional literacy pattern of learning.
Reports from UNESCO show that despite progress, at least 739 million youth and adults worldwide still lack basic literacy skills in 2024 and 4 in 10 children are not reaching minimum proficiency in reading.
