UNESCO Calls 763 Million Adults Lack Of Digital Literacy

Chair of the Governing Board, UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning Daniel Baril (right) at a press conference at the Inclusive Lifelong Learning Conference (ILLC) held in Badung, Bali, Monday. (3/7/2023). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Chair of the Governing Board, UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, Daniel Baril said, as many as 763 million adults in the world lack digital literacy. "Our world is off track. A total of 763 million adults lack digital basic literacy," he said at a press conference at the Inclusive Lifelong Learning Conference (ILLC) held in Badung, Bali, Antara, Monday, July 3. According to him, almost half of adults around the world are currently not digitally literate. At least less than five percent of adults participate in education and learning programs in a third of countries around the world. As the Fifth UNESCO Global Report shows on Adult Learning and Education, those who most need adult learning are natives, migrants, the elderly or people with disabilities, who miss out too often the opportunity to learn. Therefore, he continued, more than 140 UNESCO member countries have committed to aligning the vision and right to learn throughout life into reality through the International Conference of Seventh Adult Education (CONFINTEA VII) in Morocco last year. Then, he continued, UNESCO member countries made strong promises at various events, including the World Conference on Early Childhood Care and Education in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the World Conference on Higher Education at Barcelona, as well as the World Conference on Inclusive Life Learning (ILLC) in Bali today. This joint commitment demonstrates a shared determination to prioritize and change education at all stages of life, underlining global recognition of the importance of education in shaping a sustainable and fair future. According to him, now is the right time to realize commitments into action, by discussing how to further develop inclusive policies, supported by adequate funding, and implementing effective programs that empower individuals through learning, regardless of background or age. "We aim to build a new social contract for education, with life imprisonment as a guiding principle," he said.

Therefore, UNESCO is working with Pre-Employment to launch the #ImAlimfelong Learnner campaign which runs until World Human Rights Day on December 10, 2023.