Ministry Launches School Libraries for Literacy Day

Ministry of Education Launches Libraries for Primary Schools in Honour of World Literacy Day

In a significant step towards enhancing educational resources and promoting multilingual literacy, the Ministry of Education's National Literacy Department has launched the Primary School Libraries initiative.

This initiative coincides with the celebration of World Literacy Day, themed "Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace."

It aims to establish well-resourced libraries in primary schools across the nation, providing students with access to a diverse range of reading materials in multiple languages.

This effort is designed to foster a love of reading from an early age and support the development of literacy skills in various languages, reflecting the global theme of this year’s World Literacy Day.

Senior Education Officer with responsibility, Miss Donella Britton-Shamsudeen, in her feature remarks, explained that the initiative was brought to life through the vision of the Honourable Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand.

"The National Literacy Department is aligning with the celebration of Education Month and our recently celebrated International Literacy Day. Education month reminds us that education is the foundation of the nation's progress and development. International Literacy Day emphasizes that literacy is a human right. It is the pathway of personal empowerment, and a tool for social and economical development in any country."

She continued further, noting that the establishment of school libraries nationally marks a transformative step towards fostering a love for reading and lifelong learning among learners. "

Even though we're launching at the Primary level, Literacy is focused from Nursery, Primary and Secondary. At the Nursery schools, we would've had the revision of the 'Roraima Reader' series, where children will interact with words for the letters and sounds of things that they can see around them that are common, so that they can fit in anywhere in the world. We also would've developed our local alphabet chart, we're currently designing new workbooks for the Nursery as well. Teachers will be given step by step guidance on how to teach Phonics and in particular, reading," she explained.

The launch event highlighted the importance of multilingual education in fostering mutual understanding and peace. By equipping schools with comprehensive library resources, the Ministry of Education seeks to bridge gaps in literacy and promote an inclusive educational environment where every child can thrive.

The Primary School Libraries drive is expected to make a substantial impact on students' literacy development and cultural appreciation. Through this, the Ministry reaffirms its commitment to improving educational outcomes and supporting the next generation of readers and learners.