THE Multilingual and Professional Education Services Association (MAPESA) is currently providing literacy training-of-the-trainer classes for school teachers and others with the aim of boosting literacy rates in schools and communities across the country.
The literacy classes are underway at the Solomon Islands Christian Association (SICA) Headquarter in Koloale, Central Honiara.
Lead Trainer Alex Wate said this association was initiated by two mothers with concern over the poor literacy levels of children in both primary and secondary schools in the country.
“Most students are not able to read and write well. Some parents have voiced that the literacy rate of children nowadays is low compared to that of children in the past,” Mr Wate said.
He said acknowledging the pressing need for literature classes in the country, MAPESA thought up the idea of providing literacy classes for students in F2, F3, F4 and F5 who cannot read and write well and implemented it.
“So that is the whole reason behind why MAPEASA is providing literacy classes. Many parents still complain about the low literacy levels amongst students nowadays and we are working to help address this problem.
“This programme is to complement the formal classroom learning in the country so as to train children and those who want to improve their reading ability and writing skills.
“We provide literacy classes for children in both primary and secondary schools in an effort to help them go further in their educational journey,” Mr Wate said.
Mr Wate said MAPESA has received a lot of students since it started classes for students from pre-class to F7.
“There is a big need to train people so they can go back to their communities and teach our children and others to read and write and even help out in primary and secondary schools.
“They can be able provide extra resources to improve the literacy ability of children in schools and others in our communities,” he added.
Mr Wate said he designed the multilingual literacy training materials targeting teachers and those interested in running reading clubs and extra classes.
“This is the self-sustainability of such an initiative, so we do not offer services for free. We ask for small fees to maintain our resources and ensure continuity,” he said.
Mr Wate then encouraged who had attended literacy classes to put into practice what they learned.
“You can learn to read and write, but if you do not put into practice what you learn, you will lose them and will not improve,” he said.
Most of those attending MAPESA classes are experienced teachers and those who want to help teach literacy in their communities.
Some are from the Solomon Islands National University (SINU). These students said what they learnt from their MAPESA training enhanced what they learnt at SINU.
The classes for the current cohort were started on 13 January and will end on 24 January.
The advantage of this group is that they will have the direct support from MAPESA.
MAPESA started their classes in 2023 at the SICA Building.
By LACHLAN SHYVES EDDIE
Solomon Star, Honiara
