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READ SI first literacy teachers to provinces

YOUNG people who are trained to use the reading materials in villages have started leaving Honiara for the provinces.

14 teachers left last week for Guadalcanal highlands, Central and North Malaita, Marovo Lagoon and Central Province.

This week 10 more may be sent to Renbel, Choiseul and Southwest Are Are, Malaita.

The National Literacy Campaign has begun. READ SI is waiting for Village Committees to fill out consent forms to take responsibility for the literacy program.

This means that they agree to look after the two teachers per village, monitor their classes and report to READ SI by mobile.

At the end of six weeks, committees are asked to evaluate the programme in different ways and to send these forms back to READ SI.

The programme will be looked at carefully to make changes where needed and to see if the community needs were met in literacy, comprehension and application of the informational materials studied.

More teachers are waiting to go out and some of those will be assigned to settlements in Honiara, but first READ SI representatives need to meet with settlement chiefs, elders, church pastors and any groups that have formed.

READ SI is looking at setting up reading classes and libraries at Borderline, Gilbert Camp, Kobito and April Valley.

A RSIPF representative is assisting in the initial meetings in those areas to see how many youth and adults will attend the classes and where the venues will be for the libraries.

Schools are not to be used because READ SI wants adults to read the books and having them in a settlement or village is better than in a school.

Schools are closed in the afternoons, weekend and holidays, but village libraries can be open all the time.

Mrs Joyce Boykin has been told by PM Sogavare that the Government will look at assisting the National Literacy Campaign so that more villages will get the trained teachers and library kits of over 200 informational books.

So far businesses have been the major contributors for the teacher training, printing of books and funding teachers to get to the villages and remain there for six weeks.

Also, the NZ High Comm. donated funds for four villages and other businesses have donated funds for specific villages.

This proves that people care about helping others to develop and advance. Together, everyone can make a difference!

–READSI PRESS