Secretary General of the BVI National Commission for UNESCO, Dr. Allison Flax-Archer has said that as the Territory celebrates 2021 International Literacy Day, UNESCO and National Commissions worldwide will be endorsing the right to literacy, the cultivation of literacy and digital skills by everyone for a human-centered recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.

Dr. Flax- Archer said, “Many events have been organised throughout the Virgin Islands to commemorate the day. UNESCO will host two online global meetings on September 8 to 9 for the UNESCO International Literacy Day celebration and the UNESCO International Literacy Prizes.”

Dr. Flax-Archer is also encouraging the public to share International Literacy Day activities and videos by submitting them to aflax-archer@gov.vg so they can be uploaded on the official International Literacy Day website at UNESCO. 

“Let us share what we are doing to generate ideas for reimagined literacy teaching and learning that integrate literacy and digital skills,” she said.

Dr. Flax- Archer said the COVID-19 pandemic is seemingly the worst interruption caused in all educational structures with long school closures causing schools to completely close or the engagement of online education to be activated. She explained that in the Virgin Islands, the rapid shift to online learning like so many other places highlighted the persistent digital divide in terms of connectivity, infrastructure, and the ability to engage with technology and this is why the 2021 theme for International Literacy Day is fitting. 

International Literacy Day will be observed tomorrow, Wednesday, September 8 under the theme, ‘Literacy for a human-centered recovery: Narrowing the digital divide’.

Persons are invited to use the following links to join the meeting on September 8 and 9:

1. September 8 - UNESCO International Literacy Day celebration - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryKH07HfLic

2. September 9 -UNESCO International Literacy Prizes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6qskRHLDzA