Barbados Minister defends Barbados Literacy record

Author: (YB)

Title: "Our literacy rating in Top 5"

Source: Barbados Nation News

Date Published: September 9, 2009.

URL: http://www.nationnews.com/story/jones-on-literacy-copy-for-web

Abstract:
Barbados Minister of Education and Human Resources Development, Ronald Jones, boasts that Barbados have the fourth highest literacy rate in the world at a Literacy fair. His comments come despite criticism from various sectors that the literacy rate is falling. In this article, the Minister is quoted speaking of the investment that the Government has been taking in education.

However,the minister makes mention of several areas that he believes could improve literacy in the nation, including transformation of the way reading and writing is taught in schools, as well as the involvement of parents in building the early foundation for literacy.


Excerpt:

BARBADOS has the fourth highest literacy rate in the world.

Mere days after deputy principal of the Erdiston Teachers' Training College, Dr Patricia Saul, suggested the touted 98 per cent literacy rate was a myth, Minister of Education and Human Resources Development Ronald Jones said the country was ranked among the highest in the world.

"In a world where there are still some 776 million adults who are illiterate, and some 75 million children who are out of school, we are proud to say that we have free education from the nursery to tertiary level and our literacy rate is still among the highest in the world - fourth in the world, and that is exceptionally high," Jones said.

Speaking at yesterday's Literacy Fair in Queen's Park, Jones said teachers, principals, parents, students and all those involved in the process needed to be applauded for "keeping us on that edge"

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Barbados National Library's 2009 Literacy Fun Day and Summer Programme

Author: (DB)

Title: Creative writers in the making

Source: Barbados Nation News

Date Published: September 6, 2009

http://www.nationnews.com/news/local/National-Library-Service-Literacy-Fun-Day-copy-for-web

Abstract:

Article highlights the Barbados first National Library's Literacy Fun Day event as well as the library's summer programmes held across the island. These events featured activities for children that encourage the development of children writers and their literacy development and skills. The events allowed for children to produce 31 books and share their original creative writings through the reading of their work to the public. The Literacy Fun day also saw a puppet show to entertain those who attended.

The article also contains comments by the children service librarian, Jennifer Yarde, regarding the rationale behind the library's events and activities.



Excerpt:

"YOUNG WRITERS came out to show off their creativity and skill at the National Library Service's first ever Literacy Fun Day at Queen's Park, St Michael, yesterday.

Under the theme Literacy Beyond The Vision, librarians from all the departments came out to lend their support to the future writers of Barbados, some of whom were as young as seven years old.

"At the Library we encourage children to read and write, so that they can improve their literacy skills," children's librarian Jennifer Yarde said.

The youthful scribes came out to share their stories and books which they had written at the recently concluded summer programme held at the various libraries across the island."

A Jamaican Home for Children gets "upgraded library"

Title: Hanbury Home Gets Upgraded Library
Source: Jamaica Informaiton Service(JIS): MANDEVILLE
Date Published: Tuesday, September 01, 2009
URL: http://jis.gov.jm/officePM/html/20090901T000000-0500_20973_JIS_HANBURY_HOME_GETS_UPGRADED_LIBRARY.asp


Abstract:

Two Howard university students acquired funding for a project to equip the Hanbury Home for Children in Manchester with upgraded library resources including computers and educational software. The funds were acquired from the Davis Projects for Peace, a United States-based foundation.

The upgraded library resources was made possible through a recommendation made by Jamaican born academic at Howard University, Dr. Grace Virtue, who encouraged two of her students to seek funding from the foundation to do a project at the Home, as part of their studies. It also involved partnership with the Rotary Club of Mandeville.

The article also outlines the visions for how the resources will be utilised and benefit the Home. Plans for the long-term sustainability of the project are outlined.

Also provided in the article is some background information about the funding body, Davis Projects for Peace.


Excerpt:

"The Hanbury Home for Children in Manchester has received an upgraded library, with computers and other educational items, from the Davis Projects for Peace, a United States-based foundation.

The updated $900,000 (US$10,000) facility was made possible through a recommendation made by Jamaican born academic at Howard University..."