Dennie Quill, Contributor

The recent decision by Western Union to stage a motivational reading programme in some of the island's schools is a laudable effort and I wish other corporate entities would emulate the GraceKennedy group by making an input into the education process. I was overjoyed to see prominent members of society, including the prime minister, reading to young students in their classrooms.

Those who have been following this column know that I have been adding my voice to the literacy debate by offering some suggestions to address the problem which results in thousands of boys and girls 'graduating' from high school without the ability to read and write. Indeed, I have identified reading as the most important skill an individual can acquire.

The latest group to join the debate is the Association of Principals and Vice-Principals of upgraded high schools who are calling for more reading specialists to tackle declining levels of literacy in their schools. Decades ago when I attended primary school, dear Mrs Edwards was no reading specialist. However, we learnt the alphabet and the sounds each letter represented and we were able to sound out new words and improve our ability to communicate via the basic skills of literacy which included spelling, pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary.

Reading and comprehension

An intensive phonic component was woven into the teaching, although Mrs Edwards (God bless her soul) was no reading specialist. Back then dedicated teachers learnt instinctively and were able to engage students' interest and focus on reading and comprehension. From those early days the teachers knew the methodology of lighting a spark in children so that they became interested in reading. Without the benefit of research one knew from then that a student who could not read well was unlikely to succeed.

Parents who were themselves illiterate looked to their children to write letters, and conduct other business for them. After all, the ambition of parents is that their children would advance further in life then they did. Today, even though parents are spending more money on their children the overall results are disappointing. Why should a graduate of the illustrious Kingston College be pumping gas in Kingston?

Bolstering the reading habit

Why should a graduate of Norman Manley Secondary be a supermarket check-out boy? These are some of the questions parents are asking themselves.

Additionally children attended church regularly in those days and reading and reciting passages from the Bible helped to bolster the reading habit.

Since then much research has been done and it has been determined that there are five kinds of knowledge (informational, structure, transactional, aesthetic and process) that are critical to the reading and writing process. It seems to me that today's problems are more serious than can be addressed by reading specialists. In this advanced age students are being exposed to consumerism, sex, drugs, violence and other self-destructive behaviour long before they can creep. The television is their earliest teacher.

The literacy debate brings into sharp focus the teachers' own literary standards. First of all we need competent and dedicated teachers all round, who through creativity and innovation can motivate children to learn. Parents also have a role to ensure that students understand the linkage between literacy, numeracy and economy. It is obvious that low literacy is a hindrance to business and economic growth.

Some educators have identified the urgent need to redesign the curriculum in schools to emphasise the importance of literacy and the administrators should take note and act promptly.

Then there is the matter of material deprivation. More resources need to be plugged into the school libraries so that current and relevant material is available, including enhanced technology for Internet access.

Financing

Perhaps some corporate giant could start supplying newspapers and news magazines to schools in their neighbourhood.

The Education Ministry has never been provided with adequate resources and in many instances it is the alumni that have provided much needed finances. I urge you to give thought to improving the library stock at these institutions; and taking a leaf from Western Union's book by reading to the students could go a far way in improving the situation.