Lifelong learning
Literacy is a human right, and the foundation for continuous learning and improvement of quality of life. Due to its multiplier effect, literacy helps to eradicate poverty, decrease child mortality, achieve gender equality, and ensure sustainable development, peace, and democracy.
Even though there is an array of literacy programmes in Latin America and the Caribbean, it is clear that there is a serious problem with the drop-out rate, among other challenges. To confront this, good literacy policy practices and education programmes for youth and adults have been implemented throughout the region. However, there are still critical obstacles and significant challenges.
Target 6 of the new Education 2030 Agenda entails ensuring that all youth achieve literacy and numeracy. Therefore, among its other efforts, UNESCO is working to ensure high-quality literacy programmes in line with the national contexts, to broaden adult literacy and skills programmes, and to promote the use of ICT, specifically mobile technology.
Latest news
Events
Experts' Meeting of Latin America and the Caribbean: Literacy and Youth and Adult Education
“Literacy and Sustainable Societies: translating the ‘2030 Vision of Literacy’ into action in Latin American and the Caribbean”
26-27 November 2015. Montevideo, Uruguay
- Report on the 2nd International Conference on Learning Cities (2016)
- Self-construction and Social Transformation: Lifelong, Lifewide and Life-deep Learning (2016)
- Youth Driving Community Education: Testimonies of Empowerment from Latin America (2016)
- Harnessing the Potential of ICTs (2016)
Literacy and Numeracy Programmes Using Radio, TV, Mobile Phones, Tablets and Computers - Teaching and learning: Achieving quality for all. Focus on Latin America and the Caribbean (2014)
- Global Forum on Skills for Work and Life: post 2015. Global forum report.
14-16 October 2014, Bonn, Germany - Strategic approaches on the use of TICS in education in Latin America and the Caribbean (2013)
- Alfabetización y Educación. Lecciones desde la práctica innovadora en América Latina y el Caribe (2013)
- Upper secondary education and vocational education. Challenges of integration (2013)
- The Social and Economic Impact of Illiteracy. Analytical Model and Pilot Study (2010)
Related publications | UNESCO Santiago publications | UNESDOC
Related resources
Normative instruments
- Recomendación sobre el aprendizaje y la educación de adultos
13 de noviembre de 2015 - Recomendación sobre la Convalidación de los Estudios, Títulos y Diplomas de Enseñanza Superior
13 de noviembre de 1993 - Convenio Regional de Convalidación de Estudios, Títulos y Diplomas de Educación Superior en América Latina y el Caribe 1974
Websites
- La UNESCO y la Alfabetización (UNESCO París)
- Instituto de la UNESCO para el Aprendizaje a lo Largo de la Vida (UIL)
- Reporte Mundial sobre Educación y Aprendizaje de Adultos (GRALE, UIL)
- Literacy and numeracy practices database (LitBase, UIL)
- Evaluación y monitoreo (RAMAA, UIL)
- Análisis de políticas de aprendizaje a lo largo de toda la vida (UIL)
- Red de Documentación e Información sobre el Aprendizaje de Adultos (ALADIN, UIL)
- Materiales sobre aprendizaje a lo largo de la vida (UIL)
- La Alfabetización y las cifras del Instituto de Estadística de la UNESCO (UIS)
- eAtlas de la UNESCO por la Alfabetización (UIS)
- Educación de las mujeres y las niñas (UNESCO París)
- Laboratorio Latinoamericano de Evaluación de la Calidad de la Educación (LLECE)
- Educación superior (UNESCO París)
- Portal de la UNESCO sobre instituciones de educación superior
- UNITWIN / Programa de Cátedras UNESCO
Prizes & Commemorations
- July 15: World Youth Skills Day
- September 8: International Literacy Day
- International Literacy Prizes
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UNESCO International Literacy Prize 2015 - Chile