The Juvenile Department of the National Library on Saturday launched Storytime in the Park at the National Park under the theme “Come Hear a Story.”
Education Minister Priya Manickchand was the guest reader during this initiative, engaging the children present in the Dr Suess’s classic “Cat in the Hat.”
This activity forms part of the library’s mandate to advance literacy countrywide as it promotes reading, listening and comprehensive skills, according to Chief Librarian Emily King.
Education Minister Priya Manickchand reads to children during the National Library’s Storytime in the Park
King also encouraged parents to help their children develop a love for reading as learning to read is one of the most important skills a child can have.
Assistant Chief Education Officer with responsibility for Literacy, Samantha Williams commended the National Library on this timely project, expressing that literacy is everybody’s business.
In light of this, Williams announced that the National Department of Literacy is launching the Read Guyana Challenge in May through which children will read a story from a selection of books and write a book report every Monday.
At the end of the month, participating children will receive a Super Reader certificate.
Williams also shared that work is being done to resuscitate school clubs and libraries to promote reading.
As part of Storytime in the Park, children played games such as hopscotch, and ludo, were exposed to some aspects of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM), toured the library bus and were encouraged to become members of the National Library.
The Education Ministry continues to push for increased literacy rates across Guyana. On April 23, the National Literacy Department held a literacy extravaganza at St Stanislaus Sports Ground in an effort to cultivate an interest and passion for reading and writing among attendees.
The event saw booths showcasing interactive and educational activities, an Animal Friends App station, educational games, book review and writing, an arts and craft station and an opportunity to give or exchange a book.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Education Ministry launched a Literacy and Robotics programme at Enterprise Primary School, the first of its kind in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).
Executed by the National Department of Literacy and the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), this is a strict six-week literacy programme where students will exclusively learn reading, phonics, pronunciation and letter sounds, alongside a robotics component.
This fast-paced remedial intervention aimed to fast-track the learners’ literacy skills will begin at the basic level, move onto the intermediate level and culminate at the advanced level, throughout which the students’ progress will be assessed.
Other programmes of this kind are already in place at Dem Amstel Primary School, Kawall Primary School, La Retraite Primary School and Blankenburg Primary School in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).
