THE second in a series of workshops to address the problem of literacy countrywide was convened yesterday at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) on Battery Road, Kingston Georgetown.

The programme, conceptualised by Minister of Education, Mr. Shaik Baksh, seeks to address the situation which has been detected at the primary and, to some extent, secondary schools.

It targets mainly slow primary school learners but also caters for young adults and out of school youths.

Baksh, speaking at the forum yesterday, declared that the recently initiated drive is a demonstration of the Administration’s will to arrest the rising rate of illiteracy.

One hundred and twenty educators attended the sanitisation session, which follows a similar exercise, two weeks ago, for regional coordinators of the $115M, one year Government funded initiative.

Minister Baksh said he is pleased with the progress made since the start of the project that aims to ensure no child, youth or young adult is left behind.

The thrust is being supported by several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with technical expertise being provided by both local and overseas professionals.

Baksh said it supplements several other such programmes implemented by the Ministry of Education, chief among them being the Basic Education Access Management Support (BEAMS) project and the Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) Programme and Education For All Fast Track Initiative (EFAFTI).

Under the EFAFTI, hinterland schoolchildren participating are provided hot meals and reading resources while teachers benefit from special housing accommodation and monetary incentives, too.

Government allocates $800M annually for that scheme and, according to the minister, in order to maximise success at the primary level, grade six pupils will be streamed out based on their academic ability and the slow learners would undergo one month remedial training.

Baksh explained that the intention is to put the pupils who are behind on par with the others in their class.

But, to better address the other deficiency, as well, he said his ministry intends to double the number of trained teachers in the school system over the next five years.

Baksh said that is envisioned in the ministry’s five year strategic plan in which literacy is a top priority.

He also said training teachers through distance education as well as supervision of schools will intensify.

NCERD Director, Mr. Mohandatt Goolsarran, told the participants yesterday that, the Education Ministry expects nothing less than their best effort to arrest the fault and pointed out that the details of their work will be disclosed during the seminar.

The educators will be required to produce a monthly report on their students’ performance, maintain a database of them and record the challenges they encounter in the process.

If, upon completion in December, it is deemed successful, it might be extended for another year or two, Goolsarran stated.

He lauded the various NGOs for supporting it and noted that they have an important role to play for it to succeed.

If the success if achieved, the Education Ministry intends to let the NGOs be in control and give its financial and technical support, Goolsarran said.