Exciting Literacy Day celebrations out west
Published:Thursday | September 21, 2017 | 12:00 AM
WESTERN BUREAU:
Students from 100 primary and 20 high schools across western Jamaica got an insight into the digital world when they participated in the recent International Literacy Day celebration at Sam Sharpe Teachers' College in St James.
The event, which was staged by the Literacy Steering Committee of the Ministry of Education (MOE) Region Four, formed part of the International Literacy Month celebrations, which takes place each year in September. This year's event is being celebrated under the theme 'Literacy in a Digital World'.
"It was a wonderful experience and from all indications, the children really had fun," said Glenroy Myers, marketing/ business development officer at the MOE Region Four. "At the end of the day, we all left feeling reasonably happy with what transpired."
According to Myers, the exercise was also used to promote the use of tablet in school as a critical part of the teaching/learning tool, especially in regard to using the various digital platforms for research, among other uses.
"The use of tablets in schools is now an important tool, which has been endorsed by the Jamaica Library Service," said Myers. "Within recent times, the use of technology has improved in our educational facilities to enhance learning," he noted.
Winsome Callum, director of corporate communication and customer Service at the Jamaica Public Service, who was the guest-speaker at the event, told the children about the importance of learning in their quest to become worthwhile and productive citizens in the digital era.
"Reading is very important in your personal development, so you should try to read; as much as you can, utilising all the available tools, including technology," said Callum. "When you are young, you learn to read; but when you get older, you read to learn."
Some of the students also used the opportunity to show off their dancing, acting and oratory skills, much to the delight of their peers and the event's organisers.
"The children had so much fun that some were asking if the event will be staged next year," said Myers. "We left feeling really pleased with what had transpired."