Ever since 1966, September 8 has been observed as International Literacy Day. However, illiteracy is still a burning issue in the world as many people cannot read and write.

In most developing countries, the poor quality of education is a common cause of illiteracy growing in tandem with other social challenges, such as poverty, gender inequality and low income, and disrespect for human rights.

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), nearly 800 million adults are illiterate worldwide, two-thirds of them are women and half of 70 million children without schooling are girls.

In a message on this year’s International Literacy Day, UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova, emphasised the need to eradicate illiteracy among women as it affects the development targets of every country and nation. However, eradicating illiteracy should be looked at in a different way. This includes ensuring literacy and computer skills. In some countries, those who do not know a foreign language, are considered illiterate.

In the world today, bad writing, and mathematical skills can seriously affect the development of individuals and the whole of society as well. Therefore, eradicating illiteracy is seen as a long-term global issue.

Immediately after the country achieved independence, President Ho Chi Minh launched a campaign to eradicate illiteracy which was the nation’s scourge at the time as more than 90 percent of Vietnamese population was illiterate. A public education centre was set up in September 1945 almost from scratch. However, with massive support, tens of thousands of literacy classes opened across the country in different forms.

One year later, nearly 3 million people could read and write. Eradicating illiteracy was considered a priority task, stipulated in the Party’s resolutions and the State’s legal documents.  

During the process of international development and integration, a nation wide project was launched in 2005 to provide opportunities and create the best conditions for people from all strata of society to enjoy studying in the long run.

Since then, tens of thousands of people throughout the country have gone to literacy classes and millions of people have taken part in advanced classes at education centres and community-based education programmes.

General education programmes at all levels have been constantly renewed to keep pace with the country’s socio-economic development and international integration.

Every year sees a decline in the number of children without schooling.

President Ho Chi Minh said that an uneducated nation is a weak nation. Living up to his teachings, Vietnam has made a huge effort to create a knowledge-based society where everyone is offered the best possible conditions to study so that the country is not left behind and driven into poverty. Studying is an individual need. This is also the message of the country and every Vietnamese on International Literacy Day.