Catalogue Number
NMLH.2022.14
Object Name
Poster
Title
International Literacy Day
Date
1989
Description
A small green poster promoting International Literacy Day in South Africa. The top right corner features a sketch illustration of a reading group whilst down the left side the poem 'Praise of Learning' by German playwright Bertolt Brecht is written out. Writing underneath the illustration reads " International Literacy Day is the day i which people all over the world celebrate the right to to read and write. The United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) co-ordinates International Literacy Day, and many countries pay tribute to projects which are involved in teaching people how to read and write. In South Africa, there are still hundreds of thousands of people who are unable to read or write. Within our unions, we need to be asking why this is so. We need to ask: Is literacy necessary in our struggle? How can we integrate literacy into worker education? Send your ideas to Cosatu Education Department, PO box 1019, Johannesburg 2000." CoSATU is the Congress of South African Trade Unions who produced this poster to encourage workers to participate in International Literacy Day in 1989.
