World Literacy Day: Publishers urge stakeholders to promote digital literacy  

The Ghana Publishers Association (GPA), on the occasion of World Literary Day, has called for enhanced commitment among publishers, parents and government to promote digital literacy among learners.  

The Association said promoting literacy in the digital era required equipping citizens with the skills to navigate vast amounts of online information, identify credible sources, create digital content responsibly, and engage in lifelong learning.  

“This requires collaboration across sectors, particularly among governments, publishers, and parents, who together hold the keys to shaping a literate and informed digital generation,” the Association said.  

A release signed by Mr Asare Konadu Yamoah, the Association President, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the digital revolution offered opportunities for learners to access knowledge anytime and anywhere through online libraries, e-books, and open educational resources.  

It also provided age-appropriate digital tools and educational apps that complemented school learning, and promote responsible digital engagement.  

Those digital learning platforms, the release said, broke geographical barriers, giving children in rural or underserved areas the chance to learn from global educators.  

“Persons with disabilities also benefit greatly from digital tools such as text-to-speech software, audiobooks, and screen readers, which broaden their access to learning,” it said.  

It urged parents to guide children in digital education by supervising their use of digital devices to ensure that screen time was productive, safe, and balanced.  

“Parents help bridge the home-school gap, ensuring that children view literacy not just as an academic requirement but as a lifelong skill and personal asset,” the release added.  

It called on government to equip public libraries, schools and community centers with digital tools and open-access learning resources to aid in digital education.  

The government must also enforce laws that promoted online safety, protected minors, and curbed misinformation.  

The release called for the creation of policies that integrated digital literacy into national education curricula and support for professional development programmes to help teachers effectively use technology.  

The International Literacy Day, known as World Literacy Day, was first celebrated on September 8, 1967, after being proclaimed by UNESCO in 1966.  

It was established to highlight the importance of literacy for individuals, communities, societies and government, and to promote efforts to address global literacy challenges.?  

This year’s celebration is on the theme: “Promoting Literacy in the Digital Age.”  

Source: GNA  

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