08/09/2026
The ability to read, understand and make meaning from text is one of the most fundamental building blocks of learning. It shapes how children access knowledge, participate in school and society, and build opportunities for their futures.
Across Africa, efforts to improve literacy are increasingly taking place alongside rapid changes in digital education, artificial intelligence (AI) and education data systems.
Digital technologies can expand access to reading materials and create new ways for learners to practise and engage with text. Digital literacy helps learners navigate and critically evaluate the growing amount of information they encounter online, while emerging AI tools are creating new possibilities for personalised learning, language support and teaching.
At the same time, stronger Education Management Information Systems (EMIS) can help countries understand who is accessing education, where learning gaps persist, and how resources and interventions can be better targeted to improve foundational learning outcomes.
The opportunity is to bring these pieces together: strong foundational reading skills, capable teachers, meaningful digital learning, responsible use of AI, and education systems guided by quality data because as Africa's education systems embrace the opportunities of technology, every child still needs the foundational ability to read, understand and learn.
This International Literacy Day, GESCI reaffirms the importance of investing in literacy while harnessing digital education, AI and data to help every learner read, learn and thrive.
