Project boosts numeracy and literacy skills in schools

Momase

SELECTED elementary schools in Morobe are benefitting from the “Together for Education” project which started last year.
The project is designed to enhance accessibility to better quality elementary education, with focus on literacy and numeracy skills.
The project is scheduled to end in March 2020.
World Vision education programme manager Benoni Masalo in his presentation during the Morobe education forum yesterday in Lae said the project was different because it targeted parents and caregivers as well as teachers.
“Parents and caregivers are trained on simple methods to support their children’s learning at home,” he said.
“When the child is in the classroom, the teacher is there; when they are at home, their parents are there to support them in their education.
“Through this project we are also educating parents on the importance of school learning improvement plans (Slip) and to assist with the review and development of Slip plans for the schools.
“Parents are becoming aware, and are now able to hold the school board accountable,” Masalo said.
Masalo said 48 schools, including their surrounding communities, were part of the project.
“So far we have trained representatives from 34 different schools on Slip,” he said.
“A total of 102 people were trained altogether. We have also trained 33 Reading Club volunteers.
“The volunteers will conduct reading sessions for the children in their communities.
“Our target for the province is to reach 100 schools in the two pilot districts, 50 in Markham district and 50 in the Nawaeb district.
“In that, we want to reach 150 elementary teachers in order to reach the elementary students.”
He said the project activities were aligned with Education Department policies, such as the standard-based curriculum and the tuition fee free policy.