September 8 marks 50th International Literacy Day

September 8 is International Literacy Day, a day for promoting literacy as a way to empower people and help them improve their lives.

Happy 50th International #LiteracyDay! All you need is here: https://t.co/u4os1CrKbf pic.twitter.com/jvk8NAfOJ4

— UNESCO (@UNESCO) September 8, 2016

This year, UNESCO celebrates the day with the theme “Reading the Past, Writing the Future,” honoring 50 years of the observance of International Literacy Day and continuing its work to raise literacy rates around the world.

It also notes that this is the first year of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which has for one of its goals “ensur[ing] inclusive and equitable quality education and promot[ing] lifelong learning opportunities for all.” One way this can be achieved, says the agenda, is attaining literacy and numeracy among all youth and a "substantial proportion of adults, both men and women."

"Fifty years ago, UNESCO officially proclaimed 8 September International Literacy Day to actively mobilize the international community and to promote literacy as an instrument to empower individuals, communities and societies," UNESCO said in a statement posted on its website.

"Now International Literacy Day is celebrated worldwide, bringing together governments, multi- and bilateral organizations, NGOs, private sectors, communities, teachers, learners and experts in the field. On this day also International Literacy Prizes are awarded to people with outstanding solutions that can drive literacy towards achieving the 2030 Education Agenda. This year the focus is on innovation," it added.

PHL National Literacy Day

Meanwhile, the Philippines is also marking on Thursday "National Literacy Day," covered by Proclamation 1886 series of 1979.

We celebrate National Literacy Day as we continue to exert efforts for the increased accessibility to education. pic.twitter.com/Nd34ehVrBk

— Official Gazette PH (@govph) September 8, 2016

The proclamation said that National Literacy Day "shall be an occasion for reviewing the progress that has been made and deciding on further objectives for the gradual reduction and ultimate eradication of illiteracy as a factor militating against economic, social and cultural development."

Based on the country profile of the Philippines on the UNESCO website, the country has a literacy rate of 96.62 percent as of 2015 for Filipinos at least 15 years old:

• Females: 97.03 percent
• Males: 96.2 percent

This is based on a population of 99,139,000. — Veronica Pulumbarit/BM, GMA News