Functional literacy: The art of creativity

Education, Normal
Source:

The National, Monday July 29th, 2013

 COMMENTARY By HELEN CHRISTINE KULI

FUNCTIONAL literacy has a space and place in Papua New Guinea society. 

There are many domains in which functional literacy exists in the community, be it seen in the market place, at small businesses, sports, on the streets, church or music art are some of the many. The sense of space it occupies and the sense of ownership belong to the community where it exists. 

The growth of functional literacy is seen in our growing rural and urban communities. The influence of literacy skills of any kind develops from one idea by someone, another copies it, further develops and expands it and the trend continues. 

There has been a greater increase in activities done in the use of mostly self-acquired literacy skills by individuals who want to venture into the creativity of self-discovering the purpose of living. Some observations of community based functional literacy activities displayed skills, knowledge and values by individuals who are keen to live their lives independently.   

I want to give two observations. 

In 2008, I was invited to attend the UPNG East Sepik Students Provincial Cultural Day held at the Drill Hall at the university campus. The students celebrated their cultural day by showcasing their ethnic traditional attire from the five districts in East Sepik. 

During their assessed demonstrations the student leaders of the groups described the different pieces that made up their attire like the head dress, arm bands, necklace, grass skirts and other pieces. After the celebration the attire and their written descriptions were showcased in the exhibition section of the Michael Somare Library for a month for viewers to see and gain cultural knowledge vested in the attires.

The East Sepik cultural day is one of the many provincial cultural days held by students from different provinces. 

The cultural celebrations enabled students to appreciate their traditional cultures. 

These cultural days are organised  by students themselves. 

This activity has a placing in the university community in which the literacy skills function.

In 2012 I went to Boroko craft market to buy a PNG contemporary style matching skirt and blouse for my girlfriend. A stall caught my attention with the latest fashion.

I went over and purchased a colour. 

After purchasing, I asked the two women who sold them about their training qualifications. 

They said they had no form of formal education and they could not read a sewing manual. They said their knowledge and skills to make clothes to sell were in their minds and that they did not need a manual. 

They learnt through observing other women and by practice they mastered and advanced the skill. 

The two examples show that functional literacy is in practice used by both print literacy and illiterate individuals in the community. Functional literacy plays a vital role in developing a community when its members used it well.

 

  • Helen Kuli is a research and data base office with the National Literacy and Awareness Secretariat of the Department of Education