DTSG Stresses Importance Of Reading Culture Among Learners

BY MAGNUS EMUJI

DELTA State Government has underscored the importance of reading culture in the up­bringing of children in any society.

The Chairman, Delta State Univer­sal Basic Education (SUBEB), Hon. Samuel Mariere stated this while declaring open a workshop on the national implementation of the state action committee on promotion of reading campaign activities held in Asaba for the South -South geo political zone.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary of SUBEB, Sir Byron Unini, the Delta SUBEB boss reiterated the state government commitment to encouraging reading culture among children through the ‘early grade reading ‘programme that had already commenced in the state by the SUBEB.

Mariere said that developing read­ing strategies, which was the main focus of the workshop was timely, noting that Governor Sheriff Oborev­wori administration was determined to producing learners with sound academic and mental capacity to compete favourably with their coun­terparts across the world.

Mariere explained that the state currently has about 1141 public primary schools, adding that in no distant time, the early grade reading programme of the board would be extended to all schools.

In her remarks, the Director of Educational Planning, Research and Development, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Anigbogu O. J said that there was need to develop strategies for improving the reading culture in the society.

Mrs. Anigbogu, who was repre­sented by Dr. (Mrs). Etuknwa Emem, said that poor reading and compre­hension competencies of learners in the education system had greatly contributed to low grades, affirming that reading was an inevitable act in the educational process for the enhancement of the intellectual and other potentials.

Earlier, the Deputy Director, Educa­tion, Information and Documenta­tion, Dr. Mrs. Etuknwa Emem, whose speech was read by Mr. Malik Kuje Guni said that the workshop was one of the measures by the READ Cam­paign Branch of the Federal Ministry of Education in curbing the declining state of education in the country.

She described reading as the basic tool for learning and a means by which people gained access to the vast and varied supply of knowledge that are preserved in written form, emphasizing that the workshop was one of the efforts made to promote reading in people of all ages .