Freetown, Sierra Leone – January 24, 2024—According to the United Nations website, “education plays a key role in building sustainable and resilient societies.” Still, the United Nations reports that 244 million children and youths are out of school and 771 million adults are illiterate.
The International Day of Education, observed on Jan. 24, 2024, has raised awareness of this global issue.
Jehovah’s Witnesses have long understood the importance of quality education.
““We feel that learning should be taken very seriously,” said Edgard Lacle, local spokesperson for Jehovah’s Witnesses. “The years spent at school prepare children for the responsibilities they will take on in life. Core subjects like math, spelling, grammar, history and science are vital. Education is important in becoming good citizens”
To receive a full education, a person may first need to learn to read and write. Starting in the 1940s, Jehovah’s Witnesses have continuously operated free literacy classes around the world. They have even produced free study aids for this purpose, titled Learn to Read and Write and Apply Yourself to Reading and Writing. Mr. Lacle. states: “Learning requires reading. And a spiritual education, which is our primary work, often requires the ability to read, especially the pages of the Bible.”
According to information available on jw.org, the official website of Jehovah’s Witnesses, among the countries that have benefitted from these programs are:
- Bolivia. • Nepal.
- Cameroon. • Nigeria.
- Ghana. • Peru.
- Malawi. • Sierra Leone.
- Mexico. • Solomon Islands.
- Mozambique. • Zambia.
Such literacy programs have helped more than a quarter of a million people learn to read and write. These results are often praised by the educational authorities. In Mexico, for example, a civil servant wrote: “In behalf of the state government I convey to you their most sincere congratulations for your noble progressive work for the benefit of the people in bringing the light of knowledge to the illiterate. . . . I wish you success in your educational work.”
To learn more about Jehovah’s Witnesses and their efforts to promote quality education, please visit jw.org. All content is free, and no registration is required