Kathmandu, September 7 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) today said that there has been progress across the world in literacy since 2000 but steep challenges remain. A press statement issued here today by Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of International Literacy Day tomorrow, said that today 757 million adults still lack basic literacy skills — two-thirds are women.

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It said, “The number of out-of-school children and adolescents is on the rise, standing at 124 million worldwide — while some 250 million children of primary school age are failing to master basic literacy skills even in schooling.” It further said, “We cannot allow this to continue. Literacy is essential to reach the proposed sustainable development goal to promote “inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning for all.” It said that to allow all women and men to participate fully in their societies we need greater investment and more effective policies to embed action for literacy within wider development policies, supported by innovative mechanisms that generate positive synergies.

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