The 2021 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) shows a staggering 81% of Grade 4 learners are not able to read for meaning. International Literacy Day offers a chance to reimagine literacy as more than a basic skill, positioning it as the foundation for unlocking the potential of youth in an increasingly digital world, says Injini marketing and communication head Kelly Fisher.

Cape Town-based Injini is a non-profit organisation with the mission to improve educational outcomes across sub-Saharan Africa through innovation, entrepreneurship, and research.

The theme of this year’s International Literacy Day is “Promoting Literacy in the Digital Era,” which highlights the need to rethink education in a world where technology is increasingly central to learning, communication, and work.

The day serves to remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights, and the foundation of all learning, according to the department of basic education. Reading challenges, book swaps, and storytelling events are common ways of celebrating International Literacy Day.

Traditionally, literacy was defined as the ability to read and write; however, in today’s digital-first world, this definition has evolved. Literacy must now include critical thinking, problem-solving, and digital navigation skills.

“So traditionally, literacy meant just reading and writing, but in today’s digital first world, that’s really no longer enough.” Literacy should also encompass skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and digital navigation.

“Rethinking literacy is about equipping learners for the world they’re actually going into. It’s a world where information is constant, everyone’s always online, and being able to make sense of that information is just as important as being able to read it.”

‘Young people need critical thinking and digital skills’

“International Literacy Day is a day where we really celebrate reading and writing, and we really try to remind policymakers and those who decide the importance of literacy and creating a more literate and well-read society.

“At Injini, Africa’s first EdTech Accelerator and Think Tank, we believe that literacy must go beyond the basics of reading and writing. Now, more than ever, young people need critical thinking and digital skills to navigate the complexities of the world around them,” she said.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame dg