Initiative to improve reading skills of pupils

Ho, Aug 8, GNA - A private initiative to tackle the consistently low reading capacities of lower primary pupils will begin in the Volta Region next year.

Under the scheme, supplementary reading materials with interesting folk tales will be provided across the region in schools for use by the pupils.

Pupils will register with some token sums to have perpetual access to the books, which would be in both English and Ewe.

Dr Susan Dattenberg-Doyle, a German Philanthropist, with interest in education, is the initiator of the scheme, with support from Do-Philanthropist, a German Charity group.

Rev Ben Kuma-Kpo, Coordinator of the Project in Ghana, told Mr Joseph Amenowode, and Colonel Cyril Necku (RTD), Regional Minister and his Deputy respectively last Saturday that the scheme was in conformity with the national language policy

That policy stresses on literacy in the local languages for kids in the beginning classes before the lingua franca, English.

Rev Kuma-Kpo who is also Chairman of Volta Development Association (VODA) said the scheme would target kids between the ages of 5 and 10.

Dr Dattenberg-Doyle said the token sums, paid only once, to be listed as members of the reading club, was only to show commitment of beneficiaries.

She said stories in the books, to be printed in Ghana would have cultural relevance for the people as well as give inkling into other cultures.

Dr Dattenberg-Doyle said all cost would be borne by her group and that all that is needed from the authorities in the region was facilitating the distribution of the books.

Colonel Necku said there was some gap in the provision of books for schools and promised to get the educational authorities in the region to accept the initiative.

Mr Amenowode said he would appreciate if the books would make reading and learning a lot fun for the pupils.

Mr Raphael Kwashie, the Volta Regional Manager of Catholic Education Unit, said the scheme would boost the drive to get more to read and comprehend simple books and then begin to develop interest in reading.

Rev Winfried Hayford Azornu, Manager of the EP Church Educational Unit, said the books, written simply with illustrations and nicely packaged, could generate the interest of illiterate parents in reading and writing.