What's happening?

Kelbesa Negusse is the smartest child in the village.

He is eight years old and from EthiopiaA landlocked country in Africa. With a population of about 120 million, Ethiopia represents a melting pot of ancient cultures.. He does not go to school. But Kelbesa can already speak and write in English.

Find out more

Kelbesa's village is called Wenchi. There, most of the adults cannot read or write. 

Kelbesa learned to read using the internet. An American universityWhen people leave school, they can go to university to study more and get a degree. gave all children in Wenchi a tablet. Now they can all sing the alphabetThe parent company of Google and an array of other subsidiaries.. 

This Wednesday is International Literacy Day. There is lots to be happy about. In 1820, only 12% of people could read and write. Now, 86% can. 

Is the internet helping more people read?

Some say

Of course! The internet makes the world more equal. Last year it made sure we could still have lessons when schools closed. Soon, the whole world will be able to read and write! 

Others think

No! Having teachers and lessons is the best way to learn to read. The internet can be distracting. It is full of games and videos. We should stick to normal lessons. 

Key words 

Ethiopia - A country in East Africa. It is thought to be one of the oldest countries in the world. 

universityWhen people leave school, they can go to university to study more and get a degree. - A place where people go after school to learn more. University students take exams and earn a qualification called a degree. 

Tablet - A mobile device with a touchscreen. Each tablet had an internet connection and children were allowed to use them as they liked. 

alphabetThe parent company of Google and an array of other subsidiaries. - The collection of letters used to spell words. Some languages use different alphabets. 

International Literacy Day - Literacy is the ability to read and write. International Literacy Day is a special day to remind people about the importance of reading and writing around the world.