Friday the 10th of September 2021 saw Macmillan staff, teachers, students and inspectors converge at Ngwane Park High School to commemorate International Literacy Day for 2021. This year’s event was held under strict COVID-19 regulations to ensure everyone’s safety.

For over 40 years, UNESCO has been celebrating this important day whose principal aim is to remind the international community that literacy is a human right and the foundation of all learning.

As a publishing house, Macmillan Education Eswatini could not miss commemorating this day, since it reaffirms our stand as the nation’s real partner in education. There was no better way to celebrate this day than allowing talented students to present motivational speeches, recite poems in both siSwati and English, and even write short messages about the importance of literacy. All these pieces were rendered under the theme, “Literacy for a human-centered recovery: narrowing the digital divide.”

Macmillan Eswatini’s managing director Mr. Bongani Motsa talked extensively about the importance of narrowing the digital divide by embracing technology even in our education system. Mr. Motsa was privileged to be the guest speaker at the event. Mr Sibusiso Simelane, the publishing manager also reassured the audience of Macmillan’s commitment to literacy, through the publication of relevant school-based material that addresses the needs of the learner and the teacher of the 21st century.

The senior inspector for siSwati, Mrs. Celiwe Mohammed, highlighted the importance of also promoting indigenous languages in the fight against illiteracy.

The company donated books and promotional material in the amount of E 10 000 to the school.

The success of this colourful event can be summarised in the words of the national chief inspector for senior secondary school, Mr. Eric Dlamini, who noted,” the battle towards promoting literacy shall be won so easily with dedicated partners such as Macmillan on our side.”

What a glorious day this was!