Following recent discussions on how to improve the writing skills of students in public schools, educationist and founder of the GATE Foundation, Anis Haffar has advocated for the provision of a congenial environment to unearth and sharpen the literary skills of such students.
“Every kid needs to have a place of solitude where they can sit and read so I always suggest that there is a desk for every school going child and a chair and maybe shelves where they can begin to keep their books,” he said.
[contextly_sidebar id=”Y6HNUDKhblTnCKF49NRVFxOYaXXXGvs5″]It emerged at this year’s Citi FM Write away contest that participation from the public schools was low, compared to entries received from private schools.
The situation, some believe is as a result of the absence of effective systems to train and develop the literary skills of students in public schools.
However suggesting ways to reverse this development, Mr. Anis Haffar also recommended that teachers take up the initiative.
“The teachers themselves need to be seen reading….because we want to let the children know that reading is something that is so important that the earlier we start the better. We don’t want the people to grow up and then tell them to read because they’ve developed the wrong habit,” Mr. Anis Haffer stated.
“I keep saying this many times when I go to the universities, it’s almost impossible to see one or two people sitting and reading, these are the things that we have to begin to do,” he added.
Meanwhile Mr. Haffar has criticized the culture of undermining the potential of the youth by authorities and educational managers.
He maintains that the youth have a lot to offer when given the necessary support.
“We really have to begin to boost the morale and inspire the young people in this country because they are capable, but what I have noticed though is that we tend typically in Africa do take the young people for granted. We don’t see the need to encourage them as much; we don’t think they are capable of doing greater things and so on. All those things should now begin to be identified,” he said.
Ten out of a total of twenty shortlisted students are expected to be announced and finally screened to three.
The Write-Away contest aims at unearthing the potential of young people by giving them the opportunity to express themselves through creative writing.
This year’s winner is expected to go away with 10,000 Ghana cedis, while the first and second runners up will each receive cash prize of 5000 and 2000 Ghana cedis.
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By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citifmonline.com/Ghana