Today is International Literacy Day! This year’s theme is Literacy teaching and learning in the COVID-19 crisis and beyond, with a particular focus on the role of educators and teaching pedagogies. The highlight is on literacy learning in a lifelong learning perspective with an emphasis on youth and adults.

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown has magnified literacy challenges worldwide.  This year’s International Literacy Day provides an opportunity to reflect on and discuss innovative and effective ways to implement youth and adult literacy programs post-COVID-19.

How have literacy teaching and learning, as well as educators, been affected by the COVID-19 crisis? What are some effective teaching approaches that should be maintained or expanded? How can teaching and learning for youth and adult literacy be reimagined in times of COVID-19 and beyond?

UNESCO has prepared a concept note and background paper, Youth and Adult Literacy in the Time of COVID-19: impacts and revelations.