Botha-Bothe, Sept. 25 — Learners from both formal and informal education programmes gathered today at Marakabei Combined School to mark World Literacy Day, which was celebrated with song, dance, and the awarding of 63 certificates to graduates from Botha-Bothe and Leribe districts.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Education and Training, Prof. Ntoi Rapapa, Deputy Principal Secretary Mrs. Refiloe Kepa said the day highlights the importance of literacy in transforming lives. She explained that International Literacy Day has been observed globally on September 8 since 1967, following its proclamation by UNESCO to remind the world of the importance of literacy as a fundamental human right.
Mrs. Kepa noted that the Ministry has made significant progress in strengthening non-formal education, adding that steps are underway to legalise and institutionalise it under a new five-year strategic plan.
“We are proud as a ministry to have stabilised non-formal education and are now working towards giving it legal standing. We applaud efforts to merge non-formal and survival education, particularly as they benefit rural communities. We call on more sectors to work together to enhance livelihood education,” she said.
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