A new library was opened yesterday at the Mon Repos Primary School on the East Coast of Demerara through the efforts of ‘Spread the Words’, a group led by Laura Ryan.
At the opening ceremony, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand said that the establishment of the library fits directly into the agenda of the Ministry. She said that the Ministry has set a goal that every child must be a reader by Grade Four. According to Manickchand, currently, at the exit examinations, there is evidence to show that many children cannot read.
According to a release from the Ministry of Education, she said that the new library will not only serve the children attending the Mon Repos Primary School but also those within the community who attend other schools.
Manickchand thanked Ryan for her contribution and efforts. This is the third school that Ryan and her team have established, the release said. The other two schools are the Belle West Primary School and the Plaisance Primary School.
Ryan said that her team of volunteers had a vision of creating a beautiful space, “where children could gather; a colourful, fun and inviting area where fairies and unicorns, heroes and villains would grab their imaginations.”
She thanked the teachers and parents of the school for allowing her team the opportunity to work on the project and bring it to completion for the students. She encouraged the learners to make full use of the library, care the books, and return them on time.
Chief Librarian at the National Library, Emiley King encouraged the team to continue their work and go into more communities to establish similar facilities. She said that reading builds the minds and skills of every individual.
King suggested that the use of the library should be integrated into the school’s programme and not be used when there is ‘free time’.
Regional Education Officer for Region Four, Stembiso Grant said that the Region is working to achieve the goal of the Ministry to ensure each child is a reader by Grade Four. She said that though there has been improvement in the area of literacy, there is still work to be done.
