Cameroon hosted the celebration of the 58th World Literacy Day, with the distinguished presence of the UNESCO Director General, Audrey Azoulay, under the theme “promoting multilingual education: literacy for mutual understanding and peace”.
The two day event was organized by UNESCO and the government of Cameroon and held from the 9th to the 10th of September, 2024, in Yaounde where commemorative activities were spread across the Yaounde Conference Center, the National Museum and Government Primary School Nfandena.
Global Celebration
The global commemoration unfolded at the Yaounde Conference Center. Cameroon goes down the historical annals as the privileged third country in Africa to serve as a platform for the World Literacy Day. The international arena was a time to appreciate the global energy invested in promoting literacy and the fruits of Cameroon’s unique efforts as a nation. Joseph Dion Ngute, Prime Minister of Cameroon, launched the celebration of the international literacy day, on behalf of the Head of State, His Excellency Paul Biya during which he commended Madam Azouley and her organisation for equipping Cameroon with trained teachers, cameras and other recording equipment since the COVID-19 era that has contributed in registering progress in literacy. The motion of appreciation was also raised by the Minister of Secondary Education, Pauline Nalova Lyonga, the Minister of Basic Education, Laurent Serge Etoundi Ngoa and the Minister of Arts and Culture Ismael Bidoung Mpwatt who all noted that UNESCO remains a strategic partner in advancing learning in Cameroon. To Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute, languages should be given a primordial place in education to push literacy ahead. “Since languages are crucial tools for communication and knowledge management as well as important for preserving identifies, it is essential to use and protect everyone’s first language in everyday life in the public sphere. I am firmly convinced that literacy is a crucial lever in preserving and consolidating global peace” the Prime Minister shared his view why delivering a keynote address to launch the literacy day. On her part, the UNESCO Director General said UNESCO would continue to strengthen the education system in Cameroon with the available budget “I am very pleased to announce today, that UNESCO has been selected as an implementing partner for the country’s educational reform with a 44.5 million dollar contribution financed by the global partnership for education. I would like to thank you Prime Minister, Ministers for your trust in UNESCO based on this partnership that we have and also for the vision that we share for the future.” She expressed.
The global celebration featured presentations on the importance of literacy in promoting mutual understanding and world peace; Senegalese Writer, Boubacar Boris Diop,
noted that national languages are an important tool in promoting literacy in communities around the world. Then followed an interministerial panel which highlighted the cost of illiteracy with emphasis that policies should be revamped to enhance literacy. The panel featured speakers from Uganda, Congo, Gambia, Cambodia, Liberia, Cameroon, India, Egypt, Austria, Nigeria, Malawi and Dakar among others.
The celebration was also marked by the award of prizes to international laureates in literacy. The UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize was handed to
-Ms Ursula Maurić, Federal coordination, Education network voXmi, Vienna University of Education, Austria
-Mr Paul Mensah Amanor, Founder, Foundation for Educational Equity and Development, Ghana
-Ms Diana Carolina Lavayen Calero, Director of Programmes, Fundacion ProEd, Panama
Laureates the UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy
-Dr Sherif Salah Alsayed Alakwar, Assistant Secretary General of National Commission for UNESCO, Egypt
-Ms Saur Marlina Manurung, Co-founder, Sokola Institute, Indonesia
-Mr Gideon Seun Olanrewaju, Founder, Aid for Rural Education Access Initiative (AREAI), Nigeria
National Celebration
Cameroon as a nation was applauded by UNESCO for embracing literacy through the creation of distant learning centers and the promotion of national languages and culture which are springboards for the acquisition of literacy skills. The UNESCO Director General was taken to the distant learning center constructed by the Ministry of Secondary Education. A cultural display was done at Government Primary School Nfandena where pupils and teachers were encouraged in the drive to literacy.
The Littoral and West Regions were recognized for extra vigor in literacy strides. The prizes were awarded at the National Museum where traditional dances, sketches and choreography displays were performed in recognition that, the preservation of cultural heritage goes alongside the imbibing of literacy.
The international literacy day began since 1976 to remind the public on the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights and to advance the agenda towards a just, literate and peaceful society.
By Mildred Wung
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