The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat on Friday handed over a quantity of books to Graham’s Hall Primary in a bid to boost the school’s library capacity and enhance literacy among its pupils.
The initiative was part of a wider Project Management training programme involving staff members of the CARICOM Secretariat in which they coordinated projects in the areas of literacy, wellness, and database management. This project which focused on the literary was entitled Support for Grahams Hall Primary.
Deputy Principal of the school, Ms Geraldine Giddings, in accepting the donation said the school was “very honoured” to be identified by the coordinators of the project. She said while her school was the main beneficiary, the initiative was an investment in Guyana as a whole, as children were the future leaders of the country.
The Project Manager, Mr. Bernard Black, Senior Project Officer, CARICOM Secretariat, said that the total number of books was 186, covering 125 subject areas.
As part of the sustainability of the initiative, he said two members of the Parent Teachers Association were trained in librarianship by personnel of Guyana’s National Library, to oversee the management of the library with its capacity now boosted.
Mr. Black said that the project was specifically designed to address waning literacy among primary level students, an issue which was identified by the Ministry of Education, Guyana. In addition, he said, the group wanted the Caribbean Community Secretariat to go beyond a mere presence in the Turkeyen community to a more tangible contribution to its development.
He encouraged the Principal to continue  championing reading and literacy in Grahams Hall Primary, adding that the CARICOM Secretariat will continue to engage the school in ensuring the maintenance of its library facilities.
Chairman of the school’s Parent Teachers Association, Mr. Selwyn Anthony, noted the importance of the project in enhancing literacy both locally and nationally.
He expressed appreciation on behalf of the parents to the CARICOM Secretariat, and Guyana National Library for making the library functional with what he described as “valuable gifts.”  ( CARICOM Secretariat )