World literacy day marked in Kumasi

Kumasi, Sept. 10, GNA - The Ghana Book Publishers Association (GBPA), in collaboration with the Department of Publishing Studies (DPS) of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), on Wednesday, organised a symposium to mark this year's world literacy day.

The symposium, which was under the theme, 93Child literacy, foundation for future development", brought together stakeholders in the educational sector and the book industry, to brainstorm on the effective ways of promoting child education and literacy in the country.

World literacy day is observed on September 8, each year to create awareness and draw the public attention to the importance of education, especially children, all over the world.

The Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Madam Irina Bokova, in an address read for her, called on governments, international organisations, civil society groups and the private sector, to scale up their support towards literacy, especially for women.

She said since acquiring literacy skills gives women a sense of self- confidence and control over their lives and future, there was the need for all to support the training of both women and children, to enhance their reading, writing and numeracy, to enable them to enjoy their basic rights.

Madam Bokova said when women become literate; it helps them make choices, to dramatically change their lives for the better.

Investing in women literacy carries very high returns: it improves livelihood, leads to better child and maternal health, and favours girls' access to education.

Mr Asare Konadu Yamoah, President of the Ghana Book Publishers Association said child literacy needed a national and international strategy for national development and acceleration.

He said more attention should be focused on the development of the child to enable them to acquire the skills of writing, reading and analytical skills development at an early age.

The President said since independence, Ghana has exhibited the national and political desire to promote educational and cultural development.

He said almost every forum on education has emphasized the important role an educated citizenry could play in the national developmental effort.

Mr Yamoah said governmental organizations and private enterprises have all acknowledged child literacy as the foundation for national development.

The springing up of private educational institutions and international organizations participating in the development of the child through formal education, thus, complimenting government's efforts to attain a high level of child literacy, are evidence of how people have been aware and want to support the development of education.

Most speakers at the function called for more to be done to support the development of the education of women and children.