Dear Editor,
The Guyana, National Commission for UNESCO, joins the Ministry of Education in observing International Literacy Day, under the theme, ‘Transforming Literacy Learning Spaces’. The critical role literacy plays in the quality of life of each citizen cannot be overstated. On a broader, national level, literacy pays significant dividends in relation to our sustainable development agenda. Although strides have been made globally over the last decade, it is still disturbing to note that recent UNESCO statistics indicate that over 700 million youth and adults lack basic literacy skills. The statistics further show that this has deeper socio-economic and, in many territories, gender implications. Even further, this stark reality has been exacerbated by the recent pandemic, adding greater urgency to the need for viable solutions.
Although we lack the insights of a comprehensive, reliable measure of literacy rates in Guyana, it is clear, from preliminary studies and anecdotal evidence, that in this regard we also have a challenge to address in our nation. In her message marking this important day, the UNESCO Director-General issued a clarion call to “all actors in the field of education and beyond to re-think the role of literacy” and cited the renowned theorist Paulo Friere in noting that literacy should entail “the practice of freedom, the means by which men and women deal critically and creatively with reality and discover how to participate in the transformation of their world”. The Ministry of Education has long recognized the importance of this facet of education as noted in its stated mission: “Eliminating Illiteracy, Modernizing Education, Strengthening Tolerance”. Its recent sector plan underscored the importance of continuing efforts aimed at “improving literacy and numeracy at the basic level to ensure a good foundation for learners”.
To attain success, much of these efforts must fully address the equity issues still prevalent in our society. At a recent international forum, the Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, stressed the importance of interventions meeting the most vulnerable in our society, emphasizing that “any kind of input must reach every child, or we will be measuring for a long time to come, how that inequity and the continuing inequities affect us as a whole”. The Drop Everything and Read initiative is an attempt to bring national awareness to this issue and to enlist the support of all citizens of Guyana in the attainment of this critical developmental objective. In short, a culture of literacy must be developed in our country and can only be realized with widespread stakeholder input.
It is only upon the attainment of basic literacy skills nationally that we can even begin to engage in discussions regarding equipping citizens with other forms of literacy that are vital to their existence within the contemporary global structures, such as digital literacy. As such we encourage everyone to Drop Everything and Read and find as many ways as possible to advance our efforts in attaining a more literate Guyana.
Sincerely,
Olato Sam Ph.D.
Guyana, National Commission for
UNESCO