More than 10 million people are expected to take part in the Big Read this week, part of the Global Campaign for Education’s (GCE) action week to raise awareness about the high levels of illiteracy around the globe.
Analysts estimate there are 774 million illiterate adults, 75 million children out of primary school and 226 million children not in secondary school around the globe at present, well short of the pledge by international governments to have ‘Education for All’ by 2015. With the current global financial crisis likely to have a further detrimental effect on providing education to world’s poor the Big Read is taking place across the world, in homes, schools, government buildings and public events
The Big Read is a book of short stories about education written by prominent figures, Nobel Peace Prize winners and award-winning authors. Copies of the book will be distributed in more than 100 countries to children, learners and adult learners free of charge.
“The book will feature stories by leading figures such as Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, singer/songwriter Angelique Kidjo, with the focus being on the importance of education,” says Alex Kent, GCE coordinator in South Africa.
“The books have a declaration in the back calling for all governments to deliver a good quality free, public education and it is hoped that once an individual is done reading the book they will add their name to the declaration before passing the book on. We want everybody who reads the book to add their voice to the declaration and once the books are collected again the declarations will be handed to the education officials in that particular country as a means of urging them to do more for the uneducated in their country.”
The action week coincides with World Book day on April 23, although the Big Read in South Africa will continue until June 16, due to the elections and possible change in education leadership.
Kent told the Teacher: “We have decided to extend the programme till June 16 in South Africa, as there could be a change in education leadership after the general elections. So we have decided to wait until June before handing our declarations to the education department to allow the new leadership structure to plan adequately for how they will be dealing with the shortcomings of the education system.”
For more information visit the Big Read website at www.campaignforeducation.org/bigread/en