The University of Guyana (UG) in collaboration with Courts Guyana Inc on Friday concluded its 11th annual “Reading is Fun” programme, which was aimed at improving literacy among children in the Sophia and Cummings Lodge communities.
During the interactive ceremony, which also included a skit, dance and storytelling, each of the 52 children, ages 8-13 received certificates.
This year’s programme which was taught by lecturers and students of the School of Education and Humanities along with staff from the university’s library was held for three weeks between August 11-27 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9-12.
Deputy Vice Chancellor of UG Elizabeth Ramlal, during her remarks at the ceremony, spoke of the university’s continued commitment in partnering with corporate Guyana, in ensuring such ventures for children.
Ramlall added that the initiative also sought to motivate and mould a love for reading among the participants.
She also used the opportunity to encourage the participants to share what they have learnt with their friends, more so as the new school year is beginning.
Senior Assistant Librarian—Readers’ Services Division at UG, Juneann Garnett, who also served as evaluator of this year’s programme, said emphasis had been placed on more than just the ability to read and write; instead it also focused, on the children’s ability to view, comprehend, evaluate and speak.
Garnett said the 2015 programme also benefitted from an added dimension: the introduction of West Indian literature and culture through storytelling to the participants.
She underscored that for the first time in “Reading is Fun,” the children were introduced to “old man pappy,” a character from Guyanese folklore through which they were taught to use their creative imagination while at the same time learning about Guyanese history and culture.
She deemed this aspect of the programme as important especially against the backdrop of the increasing exposure to new information and communication technologies which rob children of not only their imaginative skills, but also their interest in, and knowledge of local culture and heritage.
The programme’s lessons were structured under the theme “developing skills in reading for life empowerment.”
In her evaluation, Garnett said children in the 8-10 category were able to read at their respective grade level and recognise words which share common relationships, such as rhyming words and homophones. In addition to reading fluently, she said these children were also able to write well-structured sentences including paragraph writing.
However, in the category, age 10 and above, Garnett said there were a few children below the reading level; many of whom did not know the meaning of words applicable to their age group and they also displayed difficulty in identifying and relating their life experiences to the stories read.
According to the evaluator, the teachers all indicated the programme was a success because most of the participants would have been able to learn new things.
She said at the beginning of the programme, a few of the children were found to be shy and displayed a lack of self-confidence, however through encouragement they were able to share their ideas and left the programme with improved self-confidence due to the positive feedback they received.
Garnett issued a call to parents to continue the work with their children and support the programme.
She said children should not take digital devices to bed but instead be encouraged to read at bedtime.
Further, she suggested parents/guardians should limit children’s television time, purchase books as gifts, make reading timetables and encourage their children to use their school or the national library.
Finance Director of Courts, Neil Boucher expressed the company’s joy in being associated with such a venture and cited his organisation as taking its “corporate/social responsibility very seriously.”
