International Literacy Day is remembered annually on September 8th, with a special focus this year on the evolving role of educators and pedagogy in the face of the COVID-19 crisis. At this time, education and literacy is being remembered as a tool to overcome policy gaps and false information dominating political and social spheres. The theme showcases literacy learning as a lifelong learning perspective, emphasizing that education is an iterative process of learning, unlearning, and re-learning and adapting to changing realities. It is especially critical to think about literacy programs which started up in conflict-ridden environments, that have now been further impacted by the global pandemic. The United Nations is hopeful that this Day will give an opportunity to analyze the role of educators, as well as formulate effective policies, systems, governance, and measures that can support educators and learning. The timely commemoration of International Day of Charity recently sparked global conversation about volunteering and giving to educational spaces safely. To find out more about how you can contribute to local communities and beyond, read through some recommendations offered in this article by The New York Times.
Here at GHELI, we are also focusing on developing novel pedagogical tools, such as our Teaching Toolkit on COVID-19 Resources for Educators, designed to support teaching and learning about COVID-19 and its implications even outside the sphere of public health. To learn more about ways to foster inclusion and belonging in your own unique educational spaces, read through UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring Report on Diversity and Inclusion.