Mkushi targets increased literacy level by 2014

Mkushi District Education Board Secretariat (DEBS) has targeted to achieve considerable increase of Literacy levels as part of projections for the year 2014.

ZANIS reports that Mkushi District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) Maybin Luulu disclosed this in an interview, today.

Mr. Luulu said that efforts were being made to achieve at least 40% Literacy rate before the end of 2013.

He said that the current Literacy rate was generally low, adding that this pattern had been found to be uniform for both urban and rural parts of Mkushi.

He cited a 2012 to 2013 Baseline Survey that had been compiled by Mkushi DEBS, explaining that Literacy rate stood at 28% amongst Grade ones and 31 percent amongst Grade 2 Pupils.

He said that the Baseline showed that Grade 3 Literacy rate was at 33 percent whilst the Grade 4 rate was 31 percent .

Mr. Luulu said that in view of these statistics, concerted efforts were being made to raise the average Literacy rate amongst Grades one and 2 pupils, to 50% before 2015.

He said that in the same vein, his office would not relent in striving to achieve 60% average Literacy rate amongst Grades 3 and 4 Pupils next year.

He said that the DEBS office had been advising and encouraging Teachers to apply innovative teaching methods in the quest to improve the general rate of Literacy in the District.

Mr. Luulu observed that the current rate of Literacy amongst school going pupils in the District, was worrisome and generally below par.

He said that there was need for Teachers in the District to devote efforts towards achieving the objective of raising the current Literacy rate to acceptable level.

Recently, Central Province Education Officer (PEO) Enita Hamatumbika called on the Mkushi’s Teachers fraternity to devote more efforts towards improving the average Literacy rate in this District.

Mrs. Hamatumbika had stated this during her visit to the District, where she tasked Female Teachers to take the leading role in raising he Literacy levels in schools as well as in the communities.

ZANIS