UNESCO official praises China's contribution to world literacy

An official from UNESCO praised China's contribution to world literacy during China Qufu International Confucius Cultural Festival, an annual commemoration of Confucius's birthday, which concluded Monday.

David Atchoarena, director of the Division for Policies and Lifelong Learning Systems in UNESCO's education sector, praised China's continued support for UNESCO's literacy work through the Confucius Prize for Literacy.

UNESCO set up the prize in 2005, honoring individuals and institutions that made a significant contribution to education development. The prize is valued at 150,000 U.S. dollars and is funded by eastern China's Shandong Province and Confucius's hometown, Jining City. So far, 27 different organizations from 22 different countries have been awarded the prize.

"The tremendous impact of the prize goes way beyond mere recognition and financial aid; it has encouraged many others who also aspire to make a difference. It has also enriched a global knowledge base, showcasing what works well and why," Atchoarena said.

He added that the prize had contributed to developing confidence, enhancing teaching and learning, advancing the use of technology, helping eradicate gender inequality and social prejudices, and empowering people to continue to work toward a more literate world.

According to UNESCO, there are 757 million illiterate adults and 124 million out-of-school children and young adolescents. Endi