The Department of Adult and Continuing Education and Extension, Jamia Millia Islamia celebrated the International Literacy Day (ILD) by hosting an Online International Webinar on 8th September 2023 from 2.30 pm onwards.The Webinar was conducted on the UNESCO ILD theme ‘Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies’.
Teachers, researchers, scholars and students joined from different parts of the world. Prof Mridula Seth, Prof. Geeta Punjabi, Prof Aparna Khanna, Dr Yuki Azad, Dr Jagriti, Dr Imran joined from University of Delhi. Dr Surjit Singh joined from Punjabi University, Patiala. Mr. Kailash Chaudhary, Chairperson, Indian Adult Education Association; Ms Nishat Farooq, Consultant UNESCO and NCERT also participated in the Webinar. Dr. Vivek Nagpal, SCERT, N.Dekhi, Prof. Neelam Sukhramani, Head Department of Social Work and Prof. Ushvinder Kaur Popli, Dr. Anwara Hashmi from Jamia Millia Islamia also attended the Webinar.
Prof. Shikha Kapur, Head, DACEE in her inaugural address highlighted since the first International Literacy Day Celebrations in 1967, these celebrations still remain relevant today. The celebrations serve as a global reminder that as humanity carries on with its
Missions to Moon, Sun, Mars and turns towards Artificial Intelligence for day to day chores, illiteracy still remains an unconquered reality that
continues to ravage the human society. ILD is stark reminder that literacy still remains an unachieved fundamental human right!
Three Speakers presented papers built around UNESCOs ILD theme in the Webinar. Prof. Savita Agarwal, Professor, Institute of Home Economics, University of Delhi presented her paper on *Digital Literacy and world in Transition*. She focussed on gender divide and how digital literacy changes lives of women.
Dr. Shalini Singh, South Asian Coordinator, ASEM LLL Hub, also a Visiting Researcher, Helmut Schmidt University of the Federal Armed Forces, Hamburg, Germany and Director, Center for Lifelong Learning, USTM made presentation on *Literacy under Development Frameworks* systematically highlighted changing concepts of literacy from World War I till date. Prof. Shikha Kapur, Head, DACEE presented her Paper on *Women Literacy and SDGs* The paper looked at how SDGs can be achieved globally and India through Women literacy. The presentations and discussions there after gave invaluable insights by shedding lights on the challenges and opportunities in the field of literacy, both locally and globally.
The International Webinar ended with the reminder that the importance of literacy extends beyond webinars and discussions. It is a lifelong journey, and it is through proactive, collective efforts meaningful difference can be made in the lives of individuals and communities worldwide.