BY VAHNU MANIKCHAND
Education Minister Priya Manickchand said when it comes to literacy among children, Guyana is not in a “terrible place”. The minister made the comment on Monday as Guyana joined the rest of the world in observance of International Literacy Day under the theme “Literacies for the 21st Century”.
The ministry in an effort to increase literacy in Guyana, handed out free books to the public on Monday. This was done across the country through the ministry’s “Drop everything and read” and “Give a book” campaigns.
The ministry had asked Guyanese to stop whatever they were doing at 11: 00h on Monday and read for 15 minutes.
The ministry had also encouraged persons to give a book to another as part of the campaign.
Response
For the most part of Monday morning, Manickchand visited several sites around Georgetown where tents were set up and she met with adults and children, encouraging them to read. Manickchand said the response from the public to the campaign was overwhelming.
She noted that this is not the end of the ministry’s literacy drive since it will be implementing a new 2014 strategic plan aimed at increasing the country’s literacy rate.
“We are going to be unveiling in 2014, a new strategic action plan where we are going to detail for the population how is it we intend to make literacy programmes accessible to both children in the classroom and people who cannot be there,” said the minister.
The education minister further stated that she is aware that there some areas that needs to be reviewed in terms of students’ literacy performance; however, she noted that Guyana is not in a terrible place as it relates to literacy among children.
She said that she is pleased that persons are willing to participate in making Guyana more literate. “I believe that there is much we can do and much we can be doing from the ministry. We are not just going to pelt a plan out there, we are going to have particular outcomes that we will look for and we will measure to see if we are getting where we want to from year to year,” Manickchand stated.
The minister encouraged all Guyanese to read as there are a lot of materials available, adding that the Internet can also be used to improve literacy skills. Manikchand is urging parents to encourage their children to read.
“If you have the skills of being able to read then make sure you use it sensibly and wisely. As parents, read to your children and if you cannot read, then sit with them for at least 15 to 20 minutes and let then read to you,” the education minister urged.
