MONROVIA – Former Liberian Foreign Affairs Minister has underscored the need for the promotion of literacy among citizens, particularly students at the primary level, to ensure the speedy progress of the Liberian society.
Madam Akinrele pointed out that a statistic from UNESCO shows that about 52% of Liberian population is illiterate, as such, the huge gap between literate and citizens should do not read and write must be tackled to guarantee Liberia’s steady development.
She maintained that literacy remains significant to the transformation of the nation.
She made these comments when she officially launched the book titled: Sundaymah’s Adventures at the YWCA headquarters in Congo Town, outside Monrovia recently.
The book was written by Madam Benda Brewer Moore under the Kids Educational Engagement Program (KEEP).
Madam Moore is the recipient of the 2020 Literacy Award from the Ministry of Education.
Former Minister Akinrele indicated that the promotion of reading skills at the primary level will guarantee the future of children and encourage them to be a part of leadership.
She urged Liberian students and others to confront their fears or issues strangulating them in other to move forward positively, and remember those who played their roles and strive towards their success.
“This story is not only learning to read. All of you today, you are what you are because other people contributed. What you put in the mind determines your soul and what you become. We are all who we are because we stood on the shoulders of others”.
She used the occasion to urge parents to spearhead the reading skills of their children at home in a bid of preparing them for leadership in the future.
She described KEEP book launch as an “extraordinary” move.
For her part, the book’s Author, Madam Brenda Brewer Moore, disclosed that the significance of the KEEP initiative is to ensure that more kids are engaged into reading to improve their writing, speaking and thinking skills.
She said the initiative is also intended to keep kids out of trouble, avoid engaging into unwholesome acts including the watching of videos on youtube and other social media sites, which have no positive impact on their lives.
She disclosed that the book “Sundaymah’s Adventures” is first series of a true life story that encourages local content and focuses on the overcoming the fear of public speaking.
Madam Cooper pointed out that series two of the book will focus on overcoming the fear of swimming, while series three will cover overcoming the fear of bullying, particularly in school.
“The will also be a part about dealing with people with disabilities within our communities. We see a lot of bullying in the schools; also a part of the book will cover teasing around tribes”.
She added that the book is not only a story telling book for reading purposes, but it is also a teaching tool that contains more than 20 new words introduced with definitions, and comprehension questions for the readers at the back of the book.
“Please encourage your children to read because, it only by creating a more literate society with quality education that we can change the narrative. We have less than 50% of our people that are educated”.
Madam Copper, however, extended thanks and appreciation to parents and partners for their immense support towards the Kids Educational Engagement Program (KEEP) which has numerous reading rooms in remote or hard-to-reach areas across Liberia.