Become more involved in your children’s education, parents told

Graduates of the YMCA Read to Lead 2019 programme. PHOTOS PROVIDED BY THE YMCA
Graduates of the YMCA Read to Lead 2019 programme. PHOTOS PROVIDED BY THE YMCA

JANELLE DE SOUZA

A call is being made for parents to be more involved in their children’s education and encourage them to engage in meaningful and positive aspects of life. Paul Phillips, head of stakeholder relations and business development at the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) says teachers cannot do it alone.

He spoke with Sunday Newsday at the closing ceremony for the Read to Lead project at the association’s Wrightson Road, Port of Spain office on Sunday. He said parents were asked to read to their children during the programme as well as at home, and he was happy that many parents got involved.

Reading instructor Collins Wason helping students learn how to read and understand during the Read to Lead programme at the YMCA.

“It is important that they do so because it will give the children a sense of identity and belonging, and to reiterate that reading is important, not only in school, but in the home. Like (former South African president) Nelson Mandela once said, ‘education is a powerful tool that can change the world, but if you can’t read it would be difficult to achieve academic success.’”

Thirty-five children, ages five to 12, from Morvant, Laventille and East PoS participated in the programme. The children from these communities were chosen because of YMCA’s involvement in a Ministry of National Security after-school programme in 2013.

The three-month programme was designed to increase the reading achievement of “at risk” children beyond the traditional classroom, as well as to bring national attention to the holistic value of reading and as an essential leisure activity.

In addition to parents reading to their children, activities included instructors reading to children, reading for understanding and comprehension, a spelling bee, and creative writing. “The children have improved greatly, especially in the area of creative writing whereby they were able to express themselves and put themselves in other people’s shoes.”

He noted it was the programme’s fifth year and the YMCA had seen an increased response. Phillips said it was oversubscribed and, unfortunately, some children were turned away.

As graduation gifts, the children received books, kindles with e-books, and tablets courtesy Royal Bank of Canada.

Simone Edwards, chair of the RBC Education Foundation, said its mission was to support youth in the community with regard to education, sport, and culture. She said when the Credo Foundation for Justice and YMCA approached the foundation, it seemed the perfect opportunity to continue to foster education among TT’s youth.

Reading instructor Margaret Rigaud reads a story book to some Read to Lead participants during the 12-week course.

“We loved that the areas they focussed on were vulnerable communities. We know there are certain things lacking in those areas like reading and literacy, and those are important to us.”

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