In an effort to tackle the low levels of literacy among students, the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) is in the process of establishing Internet-ready Literacy Hubs in every community in the town in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
The Literacy Hubs are among a raft of initiatives, the newly-installed Council is hoping to complete by December 2018.
Mayor Waneka Arrindell explained that a number of persons have already come on board. These include the Education Ministry, which has given its approval to commence the project. The One Mile School and Linden Care Foundation have
Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell
already indicated their willingness to allocate spaces for the Hubs. Mayor Arrindell, who has a passion for children, noted that while the project may not be able to be completed in every community before her eight-month tenure was over, she was hoping that the majority would get started.
She explained, “As a teacher, I have found that the level of literacy among our children is very low. There are children entering the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) class and do not know how to read. Children are in First Form and can’t read, and the teachers are not to be blamed. We don’t know the environment the children are living in, and so a curriculum is set for them to learn and so those who can, will and those who can’t, will not.”
This project will especially target those children who are in difficult circumstances and cannot afford extra lessons. Mayor Arrindell added that the Council was now at the stage where it was seeking sponsors willing to support a child at a cost of $1000 per week. However, she said that all proceeds from the Mayor’s Ball, a highlight of the upcoming Linden Town Week activities on April 27, will go towards this project.
The Mayor is encouraging businesses and other persons to get on board the initiative.
