Let’s up efforts at bringing down illiteracy rate – Director
The acting Director of the Non-Formal Education Division (NFED) of the Ministry of Education, Mr Charles Darlington Afare, has called for stronger action towards reducing the country’s high illiteracy rate.
About 46 per cent of the population is illiterate and this, he said, was unacceptable.
He said it was, therefore, important to give serious attention to the Functional Literacy Programme of the NFED.
Mr Afare said this in an address read for him at a Literacy Competition held in Kumasi as part of the preparations for the celebration of the International Literacy Day, to be held at Kuntanase, in the Bosomtwe District in Ashanti, on September 8.
This year’s event would be celebrated under the theme: “Our Peace, our Strength for Sustainable Development.”
The acting Director said the NFED offered alternative opportunities to adult learners to access basic literacy in reading, writing and computing.
It should not be lost on anyone that “literacy makes people self-reliant, independent and serves as an effective tool for development,” he added.
Mr Afare urged the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDs) to assist the Division to initiate more income generating and development activities to support the running of the adult classes.
Mr Mike Amedior, the Ashanti Regional Director of the NFED, said the programme had helped 275,222 adult learners in the region to acquire reading and writing skills.
Out of this figure, 197,199 are females.
He praised facilitators of the programme for the good job they were doing and said for the first time they would reward outstanding facilitators and learners at this year’s World’s Literacy Day.
Mr Amedior also singled out for commendation Mr Samuel Sarpong, the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, for his personal contribution towards the activities of the NFED.
He encouraged all adult illiterates to take advantage of the programme to overcome their illiteracy and improve their outlook.
Madam Gladys Owusu, aged 60, from Ejisu, was adjudged the best learner in competition, with Mr Atta Bonsu of the Manhyia Prison Literacy Class as the runner up.
For that of the facilitators, Madam Vida Owusu-Mensah of Offinso emerged the overall best.
Source: GNA