Ability to sign alone is not literacy, says Bachegowda

This aim of literacy campaigns should not end with teaching people to sign their name alone, but make them completely literate, Legislator K P Bacchegowda said here on Thursday.

Speaking on the occasion of International Literacy Day at the Chikkaballapur Government High School he said learning a few letters of the alphabet is not enough.
It live a life of confidence and self-esteem a persons needs to learn all the letters and be a complete person, the MLA added.

“Our country has remained backwards in literacy, particularly in the rural areas. Literacy is not for children alone, but also for the adults. To face the modern world it is essential to be completely literate”, he said.

Bacchegowda said that the staff who are engaged in the literacy projects should be provided with all facilities by the government. Only then literacy campaigns can be a success, he added.

To increase the rate of literacy, Sir M Visvesvaraya established night schools for the first time with the aim of providing literacy to farmers and workers. Students should now take the initiative to spead literacy among their family members, he added.

Zilla Panchayat Vice-President B Sumithramma, who spoke on the occasion said that literacy was everybody’s right.

Educationist Kodi Rangappa, who spoke on the occasion said that the importance of female eduction was not being realised.

 September 8 was proclaimed International Literacy Day by UNESCO on November 17, 1965. It was first celebrated in 1966. Its aim is to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies.

On International Literacy Day each year, UNESCO reminds the international community of the status of literacy and adult learning globally. This year’s International Literacy Day theme, “Literacy for Peace”.