PDP promises to prioritise adult literacy

PDP deputy leader Farley Augustine. PHOTO COURTESY THA -
PDP deputy leader Farley Augustine. PHOTO COURTESY THA -

If elected chief secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly, Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) candidate Farley Augustine promises to dedicate two evenings per month to host adult literacy classes.

At Primetime with Farley Augustine: Transforming Tobago streaming series on social media, on Tuesday, the former English teacher at Speyside High School said the goal is to have a robust programme that will demonstrate the importance of literacy. He said this will aid THA employees who are struggling with basic reading and writing skills.

Augustine, the candidate for Parlatuvier/L’ Anse Fourmi/ Speyside, is the deputy leader of the PDP and the party's choice for chief secretary if successful in the January 25 THA election. Responding to a question on his plans to evolve the education on the island, he said part of his plan is to use community centres and schools, during evenings, to host literacy classes. When schools close, Augustine said there must be a transition of these institutions into learning centres for adults.

“And we will also incentivise learning. We will attach bonuses to the salaries of THA employees who cannot read well. I have encountered several employees within the THA, especially those daily-rated workers, who have challenges with literacy.

“You finish work early in the morning, we will attach an incentive to you going to learn to read and to write and to do some mathematics...To build your learning must be lifelong, and must not be restricted to a specific age or a specific time in your life.”

Augustine is also keen to introduce “mummy and me” and “daddy and me” classes.

“Meaning, when we are having extra classes for the students at school we are going to encourage parents to come along to these extra classes. So that your child is in standard five and preparing for the SEA exam, at least one special class you are there to learn some of the concepts that your child is learning, and I believe if parents are there alongside each child then we will have greater discipline in these extra classes."

Augustine added, “The child will be motivated because the child now understands that daddy is learning this thing with me – we are in it together as a family. And we must also stress that learning is a family heritage, a family tradition.”Augustine said the idea was influenced by his own learning experience with his parents in Speyside.

"I learned to read because my mother will come home from church and give me church material as the Bible or this Sabbath School quarterly admission report, and have me read it. And sometimes when we come home from church on a Saturday, I will be in one room reading aloud and she will be in the next room taking a rest. But every time I mispronounce a word, she will correct me. And that's how I learned to read.”

He urged parents to return to the age where buying storybooks was an important part of a child’s development.

Augustine hopes to get communities involved and interested in enhancing reading and writing skills.

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"PDP promises to prioritise adult literacy"

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