JINAN, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Three educational programs for teenagers, rural residents and refugees won this year's UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy in Qufu, east China's Shandong Province.

The award-winners include: the "Inspirational Business Stories" program from Ghana; a "learning by teaching" literacy program from Mexico; and a Yemeni program offering literacy classes to help integrate refugees into Yemeni society.

In a message of congratulations, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education Stefania Giannini praised the programs for opening new horizons for out-of-school youths, adults and communities, especially in rural areas. She also thanked the Chinese government for supporting the annual prize for the past 15 years.

Giannini called for prioritizing education as part of the global recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. "This is a time to show how literacy programs spread hope and give people the knowledge and skills to improve their lives," the UNESCO official said.

The Confucius Prize for Literacy was established in 2005 to recognize the efforts of individuals, governments and NGOs in raising the literacy rate.

An educator and philosopher, Confucius (551-479 B.C.) founded Confucianism, a school of thought that had a profound influence on later generations. He was also the first to set up private schools in China that enrolled students from different social classes.

Monday marked the 2,571st anniversary of the ancient philosopher's birth, with ceremonies held online and in Confucius temples across China. Enditem