The United States government has urged the transitional government of national unity to invest resources toward developing foundational literacy and increasing public participation in the labor market.
While marking International Literacy Day yesterday, the U.S. government said in a statement that it has provided more than $328 million to help millions of South Sudanese citizens develop foundational literacy and numeracy skills, advance their economic well-being, improve their health, and reduce poverty.
“To mark International Literacy Day, we renew our call on the transitional government to invest public resources to meet public needs and take meaningful action to fulfill its obligations to the people of South Sudan,” the US embassy said on Tuesday in a statement issued in Juba.
“Education and literacy are fundamental human rights. They open doors to economic opportunities, break cycles of poverty, and enhance personal and societal growth,” it said.
The U.S. said it also facilitates effective communication and participation in democratic processes, strengthening community engagement and cohesion.
The statement exposed that South Sudan has the worst literacy rates in the world with approximately 70 percent of adults who cannot read or write, 84 percent of girls over the age of 15 who are illiterate, and an estimated 2.8 million children out of school.
International Literacy Day, declared by the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on October 26, 1966, at the 14th session of UNESCO’s General Conference is celebrated on September 8, each year.
The annual celebrations of International Literacy Day have been used around the world to remind policymakers, education practitioners, and the public of the importance of literacy in creating a more literate, just, peaceful, and sustainable society.
This year, International Literacy Day is celebrated under the theme of “Promoting multilingual education: Literacy for mutual understanding and peace.”
