MoE launches completed Atlantic Reader series

- To be distributed to all primary school children

The Ministry of Education launched the completed Atlantic Reader Series from Books one to six today at the Redeemer Primary School in Georgetown. The series comprises six reader books complete with workbooks.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, the Honourable Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand said that in 2011 when she assumed the office of Minister of Education, the education system had three particular challenges which lead to the decision to produce the series.

She said that schools at the time were using readers that were not relevant for the children of Guyana because they were prepared for other countries and that the quantity was not enough for every child to benefit.

The third problem she said was that too many children were not reading at the level expected for the grade they were in. With these challenges, Minister Manickchand said that a decision was taken for Guyana to produce its own series of readers that will be relevant to the Guyana context.

According to the Education Minister, 18 months after the decision was made, books one to six of the reader were written. However, only readers one to three were published and distributed to students across the country as more time was needed to perfect readers four to six.

While out of office, Minister Manickchand said that she continued to advocate for the completion of the series so that the children of Guyana can benefit from the resource. “Ten years have gone passed without the reader series intended to benefit each child, being in the book bag of each child. Ten years passed. Imagine what the results of our children could have been now,” Minister Manickchand remarked.

She said that the books launched today include the re-edited version of books one to three and books four to six together with a workbook to be made available to each primary school child. Further, Minister Manickchand noted that this year for the first time, each Primary school child will receive all the textbooks they need for school.

With today’s launch, Minister Manickchand said that the Ministry hopes to move the system quickly from having large numbers of pupils not being able to read. She said that this resource is going to help the teachers of this country and she asked that teachers use the resource consciously in a way that gives them the results they want to have at the end of the class.

Chief Education Officer, Dr. Marcel Hutson said that he believes the Ministry of Education is now in a better position to enhance the literacy landscape of children. He said that the Ministry will be conducting an analysis to monitor the effectiveness of the books.

Assistant Chief Education Officer, Ms. Samantha Williams said that the books are designed to move the primary level learners along a reading continuum that ultimately leads to them becoming independent readers.

She said that one of the important aspects of the books is that they allow pupils to navigate and explore the Health and Family Life Education skills in ways that allow them to connect with the theme and concepts of the stories.

President of the Guyana Teachers’ Union, Mr. Mark Lyte congratulated the Ministry of Education on this achievement. He said that for too long Guyana has been depending on material produced outside of the country to aid learning.

He said that using local materials has been extremely helpful in boosting the motivation and engagement of learning towards the materials presented before them. Mr. Lyte said that he is sure that educators will use the material to the best of their ability to ensure that learners develop good reading habits.

Head of the Learning Resources and Development Unit, Mrs. Myra Pierre Moore said that the launch of the books is commendable since through this and many more efforts not only will learners on the coast benefit but every child in the hinterland regions.

She said that it is a privilege that each child can have access to a book that will be used personally in the class and at home. She said that teachers can rest assured that there is added support for instruction that meets the curriculum standards and benchmarks if used appropriately.

Additionally, Mrs. Pierre Moore noted that through the use of reading resources children can build a good foundation for learning. She said that the books are invaluable resources specifically produced for the nation’s children at the primary level. “They were envisioned, designed, developed, produced and packaged with utmost care and consideration right here in our Beautiful Guyana,” she remarked.

Meanwhile, UNICEF Deputy Representative to Guyana and Suriname, Mr. Irfan Akhtar said that series is an important tool to support the children in the journey to achieve excellence in literacy and performance. Mr. Akhtar noted too that he was happy that the books will be available on the Ministry’s website so that anyone can access the material wherever they are.

Programme Manager for Human Resource Development, Dr. Laurette Bristol congratulated the Ministry and said that the intentions and aspirations of the Atlantic Reader series designed by Guyanese for Guyanese teachers and students meet the needs of literacy locally and extends the integration agenda for the Caribbean which is to use education to foster the ideal Caribbean person.

Education Specialist at the World Bank, Ms. Ingrid Bjerke, said that 53% of children in the developing world either cannot read or understand a story by the age of 10. She said that following the school closures due to the pandemic, this figure could rise to 70%.

She said that one of the key elements to developing literacy skills is access to books and reading material. She said that the Atlantic Reader series is an important tool in improving literacy in Guyana.

The contributing authors of the Atlantic Reader series are Ms. Liza Ryce, Ms. Rekha Mohabir, Ms. Samantha Williams, Ms. Verina Layne-Woolford, Ms. Collete Horatio, Ms. Corrine Osborne, Ms. Sandra Persaud, Ms. Barbara Richards, Ms. Deborah Hutson, Ms. Stembiso Grant, Ms. Timeka Lewis and the late Ms. Nicole Agard.