Independence City Primary Literacy Fair

Boosted by their ever-rising literacy rate, which now stands at 80 per cent mastery, Independence City Primary hosted a literacy fair on the school’s grounds under the theme ‘Our Goal: Literacy for all’.

Leisa Dawson, the chairperson for the Literacy Fair had this to say: “This is the fourth year we are having a literacy fair at the school and it has moved from strength to strength.”

Telecommunications Company, Digicel, capitalised on the occasionand opened an enrichment room geared at improving children’s competence in literacy and numeracy. The project cost $3.3 million. The room is used by Dawson, who pulls a selected set of children from different classes at the school each day.

Joining in the occasion were Mayor of Portmore, George Lee, who acknowledged the benefits of being able to read and write, and Patricia Perry, education officer from the Ministry of Education’s Region Six. She said that the ministry was pleased to partner with the Digicel Foundation.

“Illiteracy is a monster that we cannot fight by ourselves. It is through partnerships with institutions like the Digicel Foundation that we are able to bring needed resources into the schools,” she said. Chairman of the school board, Bishop Dr. Bradley SE Dyer, said, “It is a great day in the life of the school.”

Kerry-Jo Lyn, programmes manager at the Digicel Foundation, reiterated Digicel’s commitment to assist the Government with its goal of taking the literacy rate to 100 per cent.

The school’s choir did an impressive jingle titled ‘Literacy, Numeracy, it’s Digicel’, that left the Digicel Foundation representatives speechless. The speech choir rendered the Shepherd’s Psalm during the morning, proceedings. ”

Three book stores participated in the fair and offered discounted rates on books. The Jamaica Library Service did a display related to Child’s Month, interacted with the students, and told them stories.

There was also a professional storyteller, Patricia Cuff. She participated during the concert segment. She had the children in stitches with her exciting tales.

Students from the various grades, the dance and speech groups, all performed to make it a fruitful day for the school.

The event closed with a mini-pageant, called a ‘Stars of Literacy Contest’. The children were judged based on their literacy, and they also showcased their talents.

Source: https://digicelfoundation.wordpress.com/2012/06/09/independence-city-primary-literacy-fair/