Literacy must move away from print, says Kavanamur

By DULCIE OREKE
LITERACY must now move from basic print literacy to other types, a senior education official says.
Office of Higher Education research, science and technology director-general Prof David Kavanamur said this was done by looking at community literacy, culture literacy, chemical literacy, weather literacy, budget, gender and community literacy.
In his address at the Reading Association of Papua New Guinea conference in Port Moresby yesterday, he said other dimensions of literacy gave added value to it.
“Meaning its utility is brought to the fore as everyone who is going to be actively involved and participate meaningfully in national building in modern Papua New Guinea,” he said.
Kavanamur said more importantly, people must be equipped with literacy skills and knowledge to negotiate modernity.
“Without, which life becomes difficult and deteriorates and push people into misery and oblivion,” he said.  
Kavanamur said the conference showed new dimensions of literacy.
“It shows literacy is everyone’s business,” he said.
He said businesses, financial institutes, education agencies, technology and other specialised areas were all responsible in promoting literacy in their area of specialisation.
“Taking a holistic approach to literacy, people are made aware of the applied value of literacy that cuts across all walks of life and professions.
This can inspire and motivate people to acquire literacy skills,” he said.
Kavanamur said literacy was mostly in the hands of churches and civil society organisations.
“Churches have developed highly formal structures that penetrate rural communities,” he said.