Literacy is the key to understanding how our world works. On International Literacy Day, SFP Party President and Minister of Education Anders Adlercreutz wants to draw attention to the significance of literacy for everyone to be able to equally take part in society.
“For many years, Finland has prioritised giving children and young people strong foundations in reading and digital skills. The government has invested in the lower grades of comprehensive schooling and increased support for reading. From the current semester onwards, we have increased the number of weekly lessons in language and literature for the lower grades, because literacy skills form the basis for all further learning,” Adlercreutz explains.
The theme for this International Literacy Day, Promoting Literacy in the Digital Era, points to the fact that today, literacy is more than being able to read and write on paper. It is also about source criticism, understanding digital environments, and independently creating content in a secure and inclusive way.
“Finland has determinedly invested in digital literacy and our children are provided early on with tools for critical thinking and information analysis. Challenges still exist, however, both nationally and globally. The fact that Finland tops the list for literacy must not obscure the fact that hundreds of millions of people in the world still lack basic skills in reading and writing,” Adlercreutz says.
“Literacy is the foundation of lifelong learning. By investing in reading and media literacy, we are investing in our children’s future. It is related to what happens at school, but as parents we can also set an example with positive attitudes towards reading,” Adlercreutz advises.
