The Ministry of Education’s National Literacy Department on Monday launched the Primary School Libraries initiative at the Grove Primary School to promote multilingual literacy and enhance educational resources.
The initiative is designed to foster a love for reading from an early age and support the development of literacy skills in various languages. It will be implemented in all primary schools across the country.
The launch It also coincides with the celebration of World Literacy Day, themed “Promoting Multilingual Education, Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace.”
Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand in her remarks emphasised the importance of being literate, noting the challenges if a child lacks reading and comprehension skills.
The minister told attendees a child’s ability to read will help in understanding Mathematics, Social Studies and Science and being successful in the subject areas. According to the minister “it is as simple as that…and if [the children] read and understand the whole world will become clearer to [them].”
The ability to learn and be successful is much more complex than the minister’s statements. According to UNICEF “For children to achieve their full potential, as is their human right, they need health care and nutrition, protection from harm and a sense of security, opportunities for early learning, and responsive caregiving – like talking, singing and playing – with parents and caregivers who love them.”
Over 200,000 books have been procured to ensure each primary school receives 460 books, offering pupils a diverse selection of 28 titles, including The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Harry Potter, and Magic Tree House, among others.
Each school will also be assigned a trained librarian to manage the library space, promote reading, oversee book borrowing, and teach library procedures.
Schools will be encouraged to establish reading clubs, with the 100-Book Championship reintroduced to further inspire reading among students.
