Read. Read. Read! Widen your vocabulary, learn new concepts

— UG launches 14th ‘Reading is Fun’ programme

— three-week reading programme caters to children from Sophia between 7 to 13

—  parents and guardians urged to help in this process, to improve their children’s reading skills

DPI, Guyana, Monday, July 8, 2019

It has been found that children who read for pleasure make more progress over time as it helps them to develop a wider vocabulary and enables the child to take on new concepts.

With this mind the University of Guyana (UG), in collaboration with Courts Guyana, today launched its 14th ‘Reading is Fun’ Programme. This three-week reading programme caters to children from Sophia between the ages of 7 to 13.

[In the photo, from left to right] Deputy Vice-Chancellor with the responsibility for academic engagement, Professor Michael Scott, Courts Guyana, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Clyde De Haas, Acting University Librarian, Debra Lowe with this year’s participants.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Courts Guyana, Clyde De Haas.

Acting University Librarian, Debra Lowe.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor with the responsibility for academic engagement, Professor Michael Scott.

During the launch at the Education Lecture Theatre (ELT), Deputy Vice-Chancellor with the responsibility for academic engagement, Professor Michael Scott noted that without reading skills, many significant yet straightforward goals, cannot be accomplished. He said this initiative also speaks to the university’s desire to assist in the development of the nation’s future leaders.

“We are once more celebrating children, their energy and celebrate their desire to learn and more to ensure that there is a continuation of literary and literacy-oriented society. They are the future of the country and the world, and if they are not given the capabilities to do those that will make our world transform and change then it is going to be difficult, and that begins with being able to read.”

He commended all those present for their participation.

The workshop can be considered a steppingstone in the participants’ education experience, according to Chief Executive Officer (CEO0 of Courts Guyana, Clyde De Haas. “We, as a company, we want to associate ourselves with planting the seed at this age because this is where you need to capture the attention. This is where you start to instil good practices and where you start to instil the love for reading.” He also encouraged parents and guardians to help in this process, to further their reading skills.

The university commenced its first reading programme in 2003, targeting children from the Sophia area between the ages of 9-12. This initiative was soon expanded to ages of 7-13.

According to the Acting University Librarian, Debra Lowe, the participants will be taught in areas such as phonics, storytelling, among other activities.

Images: Abike Barker