By Stephen Appiah/Jennifer Ansu, GNA
Accra, Sept. 13, GNA – The Ghana Library Authority (GLA) has joined the global community to mark the 2018 International Literacy Day with a stakeholder engagement with pupils of some selected schools within the Greater Accra metropolis.
Mr Sampson Osenda, GLA Head of Programmes and Partnership said since 1967, the International Literacy Day celebrations had taken place annually around the world to remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights.
He said the day seeks to advance the literacy agenda towards a more literate and sustainable society.
Mr Osenda said Ghana’s commemoration of the day is on the general theme « Literacy and Skills Development ».
He said the celebration offers GLA the opportunity to explore ways to make effective connections between literacy and technical and vocational skills in policies, practice, systems and governance.
Focusing on youth and adults within the lifelong learning framework, the effective linkages between literacy and skills will be explored, he said.
He said the renewed focus on integrated approaches is grounded, on the one hand, in persistent literacy and skills challenges, and, on the other, in the new skills demands and impetus generated by the current context of globalization, digitization and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Mrs Demay Alabi, the Chief Executive Officer for 360 Degrees Foundation and the Chairperson for the occasion urged children to develop interest in reading as it forms the basis for professional skills development.
She encouraged the youth to focus on their dreams and pursue to achieve it.
Mrs Ernestina Appiah, the Founder of Ghana Coding Club said information communication and technology had become an integral part for professional development since the world had become a global village.
« Ghanaian youth therefore have no other option than to equip themselves academically through knowledge acquisition to narrow the development gap, » she said.
Mrs Grace Dsani, from Access Bank Foundation advised the children to develop the habit of saving, saying that, some banks had made room for youth banking, tagged as « Early Savers’ Account ».
The stakeholders at the programme included; Access Bank Foundation, United Nations’ International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Bishop Girls’ Basic School, Osu St Peter’s Basic School, Tenashie Basic School and Kotoka Basic Schools.
Some of the activities that marked the occasion were group reading sessions and coding skill building session.
The International Literacy Day, now forms part of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals programme adopted in 2015, which highlights the changes and improvements being made worldwide in literacy development.
The UNESCO has been central to improving global literacy since 1946 and promotes International Literacy day in partnership with governments, charities, local communities and experts in the field worldwide.
Using themes and programmes, the Day aims to turn attention on literacy in all its forms in a changing world, recognising literacy encompasses more than the written word in societies today.
GNA
FA/AD
