Project launched to encourage reading amongst pupils

A year-long project to empower learners through reading and fostering active citizenship through community-based volunteerism and innovative literacy, has been launched in Tamale.The Empowerment through Reading project emphasised vocabulary enrichment, grammar, comprehension and the overall development of pupils to enhance positive learning outcomes in schools.It is being piloted in five basic schools in Tamale and Sagnarigu Assemblies in the Northern Region, including Lamanshegu Primary School Block 'B', Lamanshegu Zaria Primary School, Nurul-Iman Primary School, Hilalia Primary School and Shishegu Zion Primary School with a focus on grade five pupils.The project is being implemented by the Learners Girls Foundation, an NGO, spearheading educational interventions through the construction of libraries and mentorship programmes in Northern and Upper East Regions.It is funded by STAR Ghana Foundation under its Volunteerism Call Initiative.Participants during the launch of the project included officia ls from the Ghana Education Service, Civil Society Organisations, community leaders, School Management Committee members among others.Madam Kumuriwa Alira Bushiratu, Executive Director, Learners Girls Foundation, speaking during the launch of the project, said it was tailored to respond to the compounding learning difficulties among learners at the basic level.She said reading clubs would be formed in the beneficiary schools coupled with books' discussions and mentorship on career guidance with the use of volunteer facilitators.She said the project would focus on addressing issues of limited access to educational materials.She called for active community involvement and support from parents and stakeholders to ensure the success of the project.Mrs Ragadahu Abdul-Wahab, Project Officer at STAR Ghana Foundation, who chaired the launch, expressed worry over the increasing rate of illiteracy and expressed need for all stakeholders to demonstrate more commitment to address the situation.She said, 'When a child learns to read, they are not just learning words in the books. They are learning to dream, think critically and to envision their brighter future.'Mrs Nuhu Alimatu Sadia, Executive Director of Hereafter-Ghana, an NGO, expressed need for the schools and communities to own and take advantage of the project to improve reading among pupils.Mrs Niamatu Iddrisu, Girl-Child Education Coordinator, Tamale Metro Education Unit, commended Learners Girls Foundation and partners for the project, saying it would help bridge the illiteracy gap in the area.Source: Ghana News Agency