Representatives from la Francophonie examine ways to fight illiteracy

Paris, 5 February

Ministers and Directors of Education, NGOs, and representatives of bi-and multi- multilateral agencies from 54 countries of the International Organization of la Francophonie (OIF) will gather in Lyon (France) from 11 to 13 February to examine ways to promote sustainable literacy and fight functional illiteracy ahead of the Sixth International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA VI) that will take place in Brazil in May this year.

Organized by the French Government’s literacy agency (Agence nationale de lutte contre l’illettrisme, ANLCI), the French National Commission for UNESCO in close collaboration with the Hamburg-based UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) and the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the OIF, the meeting will work on the idea that knowledge is not acquired all at once but continues to develop throughout life. The conference, “Enabling sustainable literacy: preventing and fighting illiteracy,” will focus on three areas:

- Sustainable literacy in everyday life;
- Sustainable literacy in professional life;
- Sustainable literacy in social and civic life.

The recognition and validation of all learning, the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), lifelong learning and multilingualism will be examined as cross-cutting issues.

Literacy is a concern of all participating countries and the areas the conference will focus on reflect the realization that, to be effective in the long-term, literacy must respond to people’s specific needs: in their personal and professional lives, and also in their lives as citizens. It implies updating skills and re-learning those that may have been forgotten while seeking new competences. Literacy must therefore be perceived as a continuous and sustainable process.

In all their work, participants will address the wide range of learning experiences, the potential of information and communication technologies, the importance of literate environments and multilingualism.

The Lyon conference is a thematic preparatory meeting organized by UNESCO as a comprehensive review of key issues and challenges in adult learning and education. It will also propose strategies and recommendations to reinvigorate policies and action. These proposals will inform discussion at the Sixth International Conference on Adult Education, CONFINTEA VI, in Belém, Brazil in May 2009.

• Author(s):Media Advisory N°2009-05
• Source:UNESCOPRESS
• 04-02-2009