FUNCTIONAL literacy is defined as the ability of an individual to apply skills in reading, writing, calculation and basic problem-solving in those activities in which literacy is required for effective functioning in society.

Guyana has a reasonably high level of functional literacy, thanks to the significant strides in education attainment levels by the PPP/C administration after it assumed office in October 1992, after nearly three decades of PNC authoritarian rule.

A study done by Professor Zellyne Jennings during the early 1990s showed that the rate of functional literacy among out-of-school youths was just around 11 per cent, a stunning revelation of the damage done to young people by the then PNC administration. Put in a different way, the study found that 89 per cent of school dropouts were functionally illiterate with the vast majority ending up unemployed or underemployed with little or no lifeskills!

The current pandemic has certainly impacted negatively in terms of school-attendance rates, raising concerns that it could hamper the full and all-round education of students now and in their later lives.

Indeed, studies done around the world showed that long school closures can lead to an increase in school dropout rates and significant learning loss, unless urgent action is taken to mitigate same. It is estimated that some 17 trillion dollars loss of earnings could result over the lifetime of the full global cohort of those who fail to complete the full cycle of primary education, not to mention stunted economic and cognitive growth along with mental health issues.

The Ministry of Education (MoE) has recently launched ‘ Operation Recovery,’ which will see education officials and community activists fanning out into communities all across the country to locate those students who had been continuously absent since the re-opening of schools, with special emphasis on those who missed the recent National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA). This is a placement examination and failure to sit the examination could result in students being denied places in secondary schools, which correspond to their levels of assessed potential. The aim is to ascertain the location of students and the reason or reasons behind their absenteeism. This will allow a determination to be made by the ministry as to what assistance could be rendered to have those children back in the classroom.

This is indeed a commendable initiative by the ministry and speaks to a caring approach to the delivery of education to our children and young people. According to a release from the Education Ministry, urgent, practical and sustained measures such as teaching and learning from a consolidated curriculum, the provision of textbooks, training and re-training are important pre-requisites for effective teaching/ learning outcomes. These, when combined with the current Operation Recovery, will militate against any anticipated loss to our students and for that matter, the country as a whole.

President Dr Mohamed Ali has been putting much emphasis on the development of our human capital. In his Republic Day address to the nation, he reiterated that people are our greatest asset. That asset, according to the President, must be harnessed efficiently to enhance productivity, stimulate creativity and overcome mediocrity.

It is precisely because of these considerations that the PPP/C administration has been investing so heavily in the education, training and institutional strengthening. The education sector this year was allocated the biggest share of the national budget. A sum of $74.4 billion has been set aside for education, which includes $30, 000 for each school child and $1.3 billion for GOAL scholarships and laptops for teachers and expansion of the National School Feeding Programme. This latter programme has proven to be particularly useful in terms of attendance rates in hinterland schools, where students have to journey over long distances to get to and from schools.

President Ali has assured the nation that every Guyanese, irrespective of the region in which they live, irrespective of their ethnic or religious background, will have an equal opportunity and stake in the development of Guyana and its rising prosperity. This, he said, can only be realised through the rolling out of universal access to world-class education as a centrepiece of personal upliftment and empowerment.

“The power of education as a means, having access to primary and secondary education, supporting attendance at school, through a free uniform programme, for at-risk student’s transportation allowance; all of these are benefits the government is giving to ensure not only 100 per cent primary and secondary universal access, but [also] to ensure attendance are [sic] not barred by issues of hunger, cost of transportation and access to schooling,” he said.

These are all the ingredients not only for a successful and child-centred learning environment, but are also true manifestations of a caring administration, whereby people are put at the centre of all development and where our children and young people are prepared and nurtured as the future leaders of society.