International Literacy Day: Promoting literacy in the digital era

Written by 

Hansa Kumari Malla, Local Coordinator for Education Planning and Budgeting  

Nawa Raj B.C., Local Coordinator in Equity in Education  

Literacy is not only about reading and writing, but also about gaining lifelong skills that open doors to better opportunities, employment, and a good quality of life. This is true for all children in Nepal but especially so for women and girls. We believe that when a woman is literate, her whole family benefits. Education helps break barriers of inequality and creates new opportunities.  

This year the International Literacy Day is celebrated under the theme “Literacy in the Digital Era”. The theme invites us to reflect on what literacy means today and how it is evolving in a world shaped by technology. 

The digital era doesn’t reduce the importance of literacy but rather enhances it. Technology has the power to impact people’s lives, expand knowledge, and connect people who before would not have met otherwise. It opens access to information, ideas, and skills that were once out of reach. 

However, digitalisation also brings challenges. It assumes the presence of strong ICT infrastructure, digital skills, clear policies, and trained human resources. In the remote areas of Karnali Province, these are not always available. Limited electricity, weak internet connections, and a lack of devices can prevent learners from taking full advantage of digital tools.

At TECSES, we are proud to support schools in promoting education and digitalisation. We work with teachers to help them integrate digital tools into their teaching practices. This allows for more versatile and effective pedagogical approaches in classrooms.

One of our initiatives is supporting the establishment of a Provincial Digital Training Center in Karnali. Through this effort, we are strengthening digital training capacity in 10 lead schools and equipping teachers with the skills they need to prepare students for the future. 

As we celebrate International Literacy Day, we are reminded that literacy today means also knowing how to use digital tools and technology. Our goal is to make sure every learner has the chance to learn, grow, and succeed in the digital age.

****

TECSES is a teacher education project in Nepal, supported by Finland and the European Union. We work to improve schools through teacher training and inclusion at the federal, provincial, and local levels of government, and Nepali universities.

Would you like to connect with Hansa or any other member of the TECSES team? Visit Our Staff to find their contact details.

If you would like to get updates about TECSES programs and events, please subscribe to our newsletter.