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In Belize, the Ministry of Education observed it today. Activities were held all around the country, and, in Belize City, Education Minister Patrick Faber held a special literacy event at the Unity Presbyterian Primary School, which is located in his constituency. 7News was there, and here's what the Deputy PM had to say about the importance of reading and writing in these current times:

Hon. Patrick Faber - Minister of Education
"It's International literacy day, and it's celebrated every year around this time. And, we're happy that whoever made the selection of celebrating it in the week in September made such a wonderful timing choice, because it coincides, of course, with our national celebrations here. So, we're able to coincide with celebrating something that is very important with our development in a month when we're celebrating other very important things to our development. So, it is a day that we of course champion literacy. But, as you know, in our Ministry, it is not only on World Literacy Day that we do this. We have a constant agenda to improve literacy in this country through our own efforts."

"Today, at Unity though, which is in my constituency - we singled out Unity. And I came here, and I read a book, A Cheer For My Mother. It's a book that focuses on financial literacy while promoting literacy. And of course, our partners, Digi and Path Light came along with us to make some very valuable donations. We donated computers today. We donated books. We donated support materials for the teachers for use in their classrooms, as well. So, this is but one segment of the celebrations for literacy day, and one small portion of our greater push in the wider Ministry of Education to advance literacy across Belize."

"Much of our intervention is done at a very early stage. We have seen where sometimes, our children get to the end of primary school. They start high school even, and they're not as strong as they ought to be."