A new literacy program that aims to teach children as young as six years old how to read in six months has been launched in Ghana by Chirano Gold Mines Limited and Prof Emeritus Stephen Adei, a renowned educationist and academician.
The program, called the Literacy and Community Development Program (LCDP), is an intergenerational, integrated and multilingual initiative that uses selected keywords of the English language to introduce the pupils to reading and writing. The pupils then read books written entirely with the keywords they have learned.
Prof Adei, who has been instrumental in developing and implementing the program, said that literacy is the key to unlocking a world of opportunities for the children in the catchment communities of Chirano Gold Mines. He added that his innovative teaching method is designed to accelerate the learning process and make it simple and interactive.
Stephen Asante Yamoah, the General Manager of Chirano Gold Mines, said that the company is committed to investing in education as a cornerstone of their corporate social responsibility initiatives. He said that by partnering with Prof Adei on this literacy program, the company aims to create a brighter future for the children in their catchment areas.
The program will initially target basic schools in the 20 catchment communities around Chirano Gold Mines. The company will provide the necessary resources and support, including the educational materials, to ensure its success.
The launch of the LCDP is part of Ghana’s efforts to improve literacy rates among its population, especially among women, the poor and in underdeveloped regions. According to UNESCO, the adult literacy rate in Ghana was 79.04% in 2018, while the youth literacy rate was 92.66%. However, there are still significant disparities across regions and genders.
Several other literacy programs have been implemented in Ghana over the years, such as the National Functional Literacy Program (NFLP), which seeks to increase the national literacy rate and empower adults with skills for their personal and community development. The NFLP uses local languages as the medium of instruction and covers topics such as health, agriculture, environment and human rights.
The LCDP is expected to have a positive impact on the literacy and socio-economic development of the communities around Chirano Gold Mines. Local educators, parents and community leaders have praised the company and Prof Adei for their dedication to improving education in the region. They see this literacy program as a beacon of hope that will empower the next generation with essential skills and opportunities for a brighter future.
Source: Ghana Web
