8

September 2013

More than 773 million young people and adults around the world cannot read this

message.  They are among the ranks of our fellow citizens who have not yet

gained full literacy skills.  They may not be able to fill out a job

application, decipher a bus timetable or read a story aloud to their children. 

Two out of three are women who are denied this essential ingredient to full

participation in society.

In our knowledge-based era, literacy is a foundation for a more just, inclusive

and sustainable world.  It can advance all the Millennium Development Goals.

Literacy  enables people to gain access to information to improve their health

and nutrition, widen their livelihood options, cope with environmental change

and make informed choices.

When we invest in learning and literacy, we invest in human dignity, development

and peace. That is why I launched the Global Education First Initiative, which

focuses on ensuring that every child can go to school. 

Worldwide at

least  250 million primary-school –age children cannot read, write  or count.





 Half of  these girls and boys  never make it to school or are pushed out before

their fourth year.  Another 200 million adolescents, including those who

completed secondary school, do not have basic literacy skills





-- and so our initiative also focuses on improving the quality of education as

well as fostering global citizenship.

I urge all countries to make education and literacy national priorities and to

work with partners across society to advance these goals. By promoting literacy,

we can help millions of people write their own chapter of opportunity in their

lives and our common future.