Zambia has today joined the rest of the world to commemorate International Literacy day with an assurance to foster and build peaceful societies through promotion of Multi-Lingual Education.

The 2024 international Literary day is commemoration is being held under the theme ” promoting multilingual education: literacy for mutual understanding and peace”.

Speaking in Nakonde District of Muchinga Province, Ministry of General Education Permanent Secretary who was represented by Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary Mr. Henry Mukungule, said Literacy is far more than the ability to just read and write but global opportunities and connections.

The Permanent Secretary further noted that the world is so dynamic and fragmented that, this year’s theme serves as a powerful tool for fostering mutual understanding and building peaceful societies through promoting Multi-Lingual Education.

With the 2024 event attracting a number of stakeholders from civil society organizations, NGOs, Faith based organizations, Zambia Correctional service, UNESCO, Bank of Zambia, Save the Children, ZOCS World Vision among others, Mr. Mukungule encouraged them to promote literacy programmes

He further said Literacy unlock the potential to access crucial resources such as the constituency Developmental fund, Business Loans, Educational bursaries and Social Cash Transfers funds.

Mr. Mukungule therefore, expressed happiness that Zambia with its seventy two languages has always place Literacy as a cornerstone of unity in diversity.

Mr. Mukungule who awarded the five most hard-working functional Literacy learners from the Department of Community Development under the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, encouraged the youths and Adults to take keen interest in exploring multilingualism as a tool for communication and knowledge acquisition which is a key to national development.

International Literacy day was inaugurated by UNESCO on 8th September in 1966 and is globally celebrated on this day each year.