FORUM: ‘’Promoting literacy in the digital era.” International Literacy Day 2025. The ILD2025 will be an opportunity for critical reflection on what literacy is and how literacy teaching and learning, programmes and policies are designed, managed and monitored in this digital era. In addition, ILD2025 will spotlight effective policies and interventions to promote literacy as a common good and a right, and as a lever for empowerment and transformation to build more inclusive, just and sustainable societies. It will also provide a space for collective discussion on the futures of literacy. The ILD 2025 Objectives aim at: • Celebrating literacy achievements and raising awareness of the need to address remaining and emerging challenges in the rapidly evolving digital landscapes. • Reflecting on the transformative power of literacy as a key factor for improving education and lifelong learning in the digital era. • Exploring both potential and risks of digitalization for literacy teaching and learning, programmes, policies and lifelong learning ecosystems. • Identifying effective strategies and programmes for developing literacy and digital skills • Identifying digital programmes and initiatives that effectively support the development of literacy skills of diverse learners and target groups • Fostering multistakeholder dialogue and partnerships in support of enhanced literacy efforts. The increasing integration of AI into education presents both transformative opportunities and complex challenges, reshaping pedagogies, curricula and education governance while raising critical questions about equity, ethics and human agency. As debates swirl over AI's disruptive potential — ranging from hyperbolic promises to more cautionary approaches — education systems must navigate dilemmas, including the implications of digital surveillance, systemic biases and the potential erosion of human accountability in education decision-making to recalibrate positive new directions for education futures. Under the theme "AI and the future of education: Disruptions, dilemmas and directions", The UNESCO's 2025 Digital Learning Week will assist in charting pathways for equitable, ethical and human-driven AI integration in education, ensuring technology serves as a force for inclusive progress.. Follow the conversation with the hashtags #LiteracyDay; #LiteracyLearningSpaces; #8september.
EVENTS: On and around September 8th, 2025; The ILD will be celebrated across the world at global, regional, country, community levels in person and online. At the global level, a global conference will be organized by UNESCO at its Headquarters in Paris, France, on 8 September 2025. Several national governments are planning national celebrations, while many events are being organized by other partners. To participate in the Global celebration of the International Literacy Day 2025. Read the agenda programme and Register to participate. For further information please visit the webpages of International Literacy Day 2025 and the UNESCO International Literacy Prizes. For specific inquiries, please contact: • International Literacy Day and the global celebration: ILD2025 Secretariat (Section of Youth, Literacy and Skills Development, Division of Policies and Lifelong Learning Systems) at literacy@unesco.org • International Literacy Prizes 2025: ILP Secretariat (Section of Youth, Literacy and Skills Development, Division of Policies and Lifelong Learning Systems) at literacyprizes@unesco.org.
On September 9th, 2025; In the context of the global International Literacy Day celebration at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) will host the Annual General Meeting of the Global Alliance for Literacy (GAL) and the Action Research on Measuring Literacy Learning and Educational Alternatives (RAMAED) online. Aligned with the objectives of the Marrakech Framework for Action and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4, the meeting will promote literacy as a foundation for lifelong learning and emphasize its importance as a policy priority. Participants will share updates and identify national priorities in GAL and RAMAED countries. The meeting will also reflect on key findings from the evaluation of the GAL Strategy and engage members in discussions to identify lessons learned, gaps, and areas for improvement. A strategic dialogue will be facilitated to address the governance and future direction of the Global Alliance for Literacy, laying the groundwork for the development of the GAL Strategy 2030. Representatives of GAL and RAMAED countries, GAL Associate Members, GEC members, invited speakers, and other interested partners will participate in this invitation-only event. The meeting will be conducted in English, French, and Arabic with simultaneous interpretation. Learn more about this event.
From September 2nd to 5th, 2025; The Third edition of Digital Learning Week will take place at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris in the Room IX and Room II. The UNESCO's Digital Learning Week presents a unique opportunity to participate in dynamic and thought-provoking discussions, dialogue and the sharing of groundbreaking ideas, and to foster meaningful co-creation and collaborative efforts to advance the digital transformation of education and to “reimagine our futures together.”The event aims to foster critical reflection, peer learning and policy dialogue, addressing today’s pressing challenges while shaping the future of education in an era of rapid technological change. It is expected to gather up to 1,000 participants, including 30 Ministers of Education, alongside digital education leaders, policy-makers, researchers and practitioners from various organizations, including UN agencies, governments, academia, NGOs and the private sector. Discussions will explore whether and how AI is disrupting education, navigate the complex dilemmas it presents, and identify strategic directions to harness its potential responsibly. The Digital Learning Week 2025 event spans four engaging days, including:
- Ministerial panels, multistakeholder dialogues and public lectures from global opinion leaders
- Parallel sessions, foresight workshops and open ideas labs for knowledge exchange and co-creation
- Launch of UNESCO-led knowledge products and tools, including think pieces on AI and learning futures
- Exhibition of digital learning solutions and innovations
- Networking opportunities with policy-makers, educators and innovators driving change
The Digital Learning Week 2025 will take place in person at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France. All plenary sessions will be livestreamed in English and French to a global audience. Register to participate, explore the Day 1 - Day 2 - Day 3 Photos of the event and get Access the webcast for plenary sessions!
WEBINARS: These one-hour online professional learning events organized by the International Literacy Association (ILA) deliver insight and practical resources from experts in the field of literacy. You'll gain dependable, research-supported ideas you can apply in your classroom, school, and district. Explore the ILA digital events!
PUBLICATIONS: AI and the future of education. Disruptions, dilemmas and directions; This new UNESCO publication explores the philosophical, ethical and pedagogical dilemmas posed by disruptive influence of AI in education. Read the full publication.
REPORTS: AI and education: protecting the rights of learners; This report argues for a human-centred, rights-based approach that ensures innovations strengthen learning opportunities for all. Read the full report.
STATEMENTS: Statement from the UNESCO Director-General on International Literacy Day 2025; September 8th.
The global celebration of International Literacy Day (ILD) 2025, organized by UNESCO under the theme ‘Promoting Literacy in the Digital Era’, will take place on 8 September 2025 at its Headquarters in Paris, France. The in-person event will also be livestreamed to a global audience. The celebration will include the award ceremony of the UNESCO International Literacy Prizes. Interpretation will be available in English, French and Spanish.
The main objectives of the global conference are:
• To reflect on both the potential and risks of digitalization for literacy.• To explore how lifelong learning ecosystems can be enhanced to promote literacy in the digital era.
• To identify effective digitally empowered literacy programmes and practices.
• To reflect on the futures of literacy in a world where digitalization is increasingly transforming our life, work and learning.
• To celebrate the achievements of the six laureates of the 2025 UNESCO International Literacy Prizes.
Registration & informal discussions and Opening session
Master of Ceremony:
- Mr Marco Horanieh, Presenter and actor, France
- Ms Farida Shaheed, UN Special rapporteur on the right to education
Keynote speech Introduction:
- Mr Borhene Chakroun, Director, Division of Policies and Lifelong Learning Systems, Education Sector, UNESCO
- Ms Kate Arthur, British-Canadian entrepreneur
High-level panel – Literacy in the digital era.
This session intends to explore the potential of digital technologies to improve the way in which literacy is promoted at the system, programme and practice levels. It also aims to reflect on the challenges and potential risks posed by rapidly evolving digital landscapes, which must be addressed to ensure that everyone can achieve relevant and functional literacy skills as a right and a foundation for inclusive, just and sustainable societies.
Session 1: Enhancing lifelong learning ecosystems.
A lifelong learning ecosystem encompasses systems, institutions, structures, policies, frameworks, and governance. Creating an enabling ecosystem is essential for promoting literacy as a lifelong pursuit across both physical and virtual spaces, and within formal, non-formal and informal learning settings, such as schools, training institutions, online courses, workplaces, community learning centres and home. This session will explore ways to strengthen lifelong learning ecosystems, with attention to human rights principles, democratic values, digital inclusion, privacy, and diversity in cultures, languages and knowledge systems
Session 2: Promoting effective literacy programmes and practices in the digital era.
Digitalization is transforming literacy programmes and practices broadly in two aspects: responding to evolving skill demands – particularly the need for higher levels of literacy skills as a basis for lifelong learning, alongside digital skills, which are increasingly integral to literacy itself; and leveraging digital technologies to improve design, content, management and monitoring of literacy programmes. This session will explore the key factors that can make literacy programmes in the digital era more inclusive, effective and sustainable
Session 3: Envisioning the futures of literacy in the digital era and ways forward.
This session aims to reflect on the futures of literacy in a world where digital technologies are increasingly permeating many spheres of life, transforming how we learn, live, work, interact and socialize, while also impacting the well-being of our planet. What kind of global literacy landscapes do we aspire to shape by 2050? What should be continued, discontinued or transformed in the way we design and manage literacy policies, programmes and practices?
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: ‘’Promoting literacy in the digital era.” These challenges highlight the importance of developing more solid and higher levels of literacy skills, while ensuring linguistic, cultural, and epistemic diversity, through enhancing holistic lifelong learning ecosystems, and embracing policies, programmes, practices, monitoring, governance, financing and partnerships.The Ideas generated through ILD2025 discussions to address issues in these areas are expected to chart future actions at the global, system, programme and practice levels. join the campaign, Get the ILD2025 Poster and other communication materials!
