| “Only a small portion of learning comes through what we formally think of as our education system. Where does the rest come from? It comes from the home,” asserted Deputy Chief Education Officer, Bibi Alli.For this reason it is of paramount importance, she noted, that families are not excluded from this process.“We have to remember that education begins in the homes and parents also have a responsibility; extended families have a responsibility to ensure that our children can read,” Alli insisted recently.And in the continued drive to boost literacy in the society, the Ministry of Education has identified low performing schools for special intervention, according to the Deputy Chief Education Officer. She revealed that efforts are continually being made to look at all of the results of the national examinations in an attempt to ascertain the schools that are not performing well. Once low performing schools are identified, they become eligible for special attention and intervention, Alli said.Among the intervening measures is the introduction of remedial programmes for pupils who need help which is complemented by reading clubs that have been introduced at the low performing schools. As such, she noted, that schools are deliberately swamped with books. “For the longest while we have not had so many books in schools. So it is for the teachers and the students to use these books. Teachers are continually trained in the literacy methodology…because the ministry is really addressing the problem.”Further, she revealed, that teachers in the target schools are given extra support as it is recognised that they cannot deliver if they do not have the requisite knowledge. “We give them this extra support through the Regional Literacy Coordinators who are part of the literacy Unit. So every effort is made to ensure that teachers implement the literacy programmes in schools.”However,Paul Kariya Ducks Throwback Jersey, Alli warned that it is not only the responsibility of the Ministry of Education and families to address illiteracy but rather it is everyone’s responsibility. She asserted though that the Ministry has an important leadership role to play, as do all institutions of learning,Mens Air Jordan 1 Retro High Strap Black Red 3421XXXII-061, at all levels. In fact it is Alli’s conviction that employers,Cheap Jerseys, unions, business organisations,College Jerseys, social organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations, all of which have a pivotal role to play in delivering services and in helping to improve literacy. “All the agencies in societies are important in ensuring that our children are literate. Learning involves the acquisition of knowledge, skills and values throughout life. It includes everything from classroom study as a child to acquiring specific job skills to personal growth through interest such as arts and sports and even learning to cooperate with others in the community.”Alli explained that learning cannot simply be regarded as passing an examination but rather it hasto do with attitudes and values which must all be governed by the promotion of literacy.She asserted further that literacy cannot be thought of as merely rhetoric but rather it should have a tangible impact on all citizens,Basket Jordan Junior Pas Cher, a state of affairs which has forced countries around the world to pursue policies and programmes to support the acquisition of literacy among their citizens. “Guyana is doing its part and the Ministry of Education has embarked on many innovative approaches to ensure the improvement of literacy…this move is supported by a number of organisations which are working towards the advancement of literacy across Guyana.”According to literary activist, Petamber Persaud,Cheap Jerseys Wholesale, “reading can do so much…It can elucidate, it can empower, it can inspire, it can entertain and even serve to open a world of possibilities.” It was for this reason that a reading club was on Friday last launched at the National Library under the theme ‘when we read we learn..The reading club is intended to target children both in and out of school and by extension help boost the country’s literacy level.As a joint venture between the Library and the Ministry of Education, the programme comes as part of the recognition that reading is essential to the development of individuals and encourages progression in the society. |
