Sekondi-takoradi: The Sekondi-Takoradi Cluster of Compassion International Ghana Assisted Projects commemorated World Literacy Day at Christ the King Methodist Church, Anaji, emphasizing the importance of digital literacy for schoolchildren in a globalized society.
According to Ghana News Agency, the event, themed 'Promoting Literacy in the Digital Era,' attracted thousands of schoolchildren from various zones within the Sekondi-Takoradi Cluster, who participated in a literary competition. The celebration featured a quiz competition in various language activities, with Zone A emerging as the overall winner.
Mr. Henry Nyanzu Kofie, Project Director of Compassion International Ghana, highlighted that literacy extends beyond reading and writing to include critical thinking. He mentioned the ongoing efforts by Compassion International Ghana to provide structured literacy programs for volunteers and teachers, aiming to support participants in achieving their goals. Mr. Kofie pointed out the benefits of literacy, such as improved academic performance, personal and spiritual growth, and community impact.
Madam Wilhemina Cooker Davies, a lecturer in Communication Skills at Takoradi Technical University, addressed the significance of literacy in the digital era, stressing the need for schoolchildren to adapt to digitalization safely. She advised them on the importance of reading, writing, understanding, and reproducing information while staying vigilant online to avoid scams and threats.
Madam Gloria Biney Dontoh, Municipal Director of Education at the Effia Kwesimintsim Municipal Assembly, in a speech read on her behalf, emphasized the expanded scope of literacy in the digital age, which includes critical thinking and problem-solving. She urged schoolchildren to engage in online communication and learn multiple languages to enhance their communication skills. Madam Dontoh also identified challenges such as limited internet access and a lack of digital resources like e-books and educational apps.
She called on parents to collaborate with their children to bridge the digital divide and promote literacy. Additionally, she noted that the Ghana Education Service (GES) supports inclusive literacy for visually and hearing-impaired students.
Very Reverend Isaac Kwame Ghartey, Superintendent Minister of the Anaji Estate Christ the King Methodist Circuit, acknowledged the integration of digitalization into church activities and stressed the need for the church to adapt to the digital era. He encouraged embracing the positive aspects of digitalization while avoiding its negative impacts.
Earlier in the event, schoolchildren carried placards with messages such as 'Knowledge is Power: Literacy is the Key,' 'Every Book is a New Adventure,' 'One Book Can Change Everything,' and 'Teach a Child to Read: Change a Life Forever.'
