News Blogger: literacy

MORE than 40,000 students and teachers from schools in four education regions are to benefit from Digicel Foundation’s enrichment initiative, aimed at boosting literacy and numeracy at the primary level.

The aim is to train teachers in the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) provided by Digicel, to enhance curriculum delivery. A total of 31 schools from regions three to six have been selected to benefit from the programme, beginning September 2013.A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), between Digicel Foundation and the participating schools, was signed last Thursday, at the Ministry of Education’s Region Four office in Montego Bay, St James.Board member of the Digicel Foundation, Joy Clark, said that the programme hopes to reach 40,000 students and 190 teachers, who will be trained to use ICT as a new method of teaching.Regional director, Hilary Foster, and the school administrators welcomed the support. “We look forward to the training of our teachers, and the engagement of parents; the end result will be improvement in the students’ performance. I thank the Digicel Foundation for partnering with us as we seek to improve student learning. This reflects their commitment to education,” Foster stated.Chairman of the Bethel Primary and Junior High School in Hanover, Rev O’Neil Brown, also expressed gratitude to Digicel for “impacting education in an area where we all have concerns. I am thankful for that”.Principal of the St James-based Irwin Primary School, Clive Nelson, said that the enrichment programme is an outstanding one. He pledged that come September, “we all will go out there and make sure that literacy is improved, and the children will get the individual attention that they need”.The enrichment initiative is an islandwide ICT partnership with the Ministry of Education and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in support of the United Nations Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of achieving 100 per cent literacy by 2015.First launched in 2009, the project is designed to provide ICT and more individualised instruction for students in grades one through to three, who are experiencing difficulty in achieving their grade level in reading.Digicel Foundation and USAID have invested US $3.7 million in support of the initiative, which involves the provision of computers, software, literacy tools and material.Already under the initiative, enrichment centres have been established in a number of institutions.The programme is hoping to reach 95 schools over the next three years.

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Literacy and numeracy boost for 31 schools

EVER heard the expression “If only I knew then what I know now?” How many of us have said this at some time or the other? I admit I am one of those persons. Somehow years ago being taught how to save and use your money wisely did not seem to be as important as it is now. Parents and guardians alike need to be taught financial literacy so they can in turn teach their children and contribute to the financial security of a family, a community and even a country. Ideally, financial literacy should be taught in schools and reinforced at home, just like other subjects.

You may ask “What is financial literacy?” Financial literacy is the ability to understand how money works in the world: how someone earns or makes it, how that person manages it, how he/she invests it (turnS it into more) and how that person donates it to help others.Why is it necessary to have financial literacy? To answer this question simply, financial literacy is important as it allows individuals to make informed and effective decisions with all of their financial resources.I understand that children are still being told that “money grows on trees”. No wonder we have so many financial problems today. Let us detail some important concepts that children need to understand as they begin this journey of money literacy!A mint is a place where money is made. Our central bank, also known as the Bank of Jamaica, prints our money. Most people who work for organisations are paid on a monthly basis, but sometimes they can be paid weekly or fortnightly.An alternative to working for a company is creating your own business and in turn employing people. You are then called an entrepreneur. If kids have a creative idea to make money, they should discuss it with their parents or guardian or ask for assistance from someone else who may be able to guide them. Starting a business is not always easy and will require a lot of hard work, dedication, the right team and commitment. In fact, many entrepreneurs receive assistance from other people in the same business. Kids are not legally able to earn an income until they are eighteen or over.Did you know that countries earn money too, but on a larger scale? Jamaica and other countries earn income from exports, tourism and taxation to name a few examples. Taxes are compulsory payments made to the Government by individuals and companies.Companies sell their goods and services and based on the funds they earn they invest the funds until it is time to pay staff. Businesses, organisations and people use financial institutions to deposit or withdraw their money. These same institutions get their money from the Bank of Jamaica. Another function of a Central Bank is to regulate the flow of money in a country by working closely with regulated financial institutions such as banks and credit unions. People use money to buy food and other household items, pay utility bills, school fees and medical bills, to name a few.Money is a store of value, unit of account and a medium of exchange for goods and services. When you work and get paid, that is money in exchange for your service. Likewise, when you purchase an item in the supermarket or buy an ice cream cone, your money is exchanged for that item.With modern technology, you do not necessarily have to go to a teller in a financial institution each time you need to deposit or withdraw cash. Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are specially programmed machines that accept debit and credit cards which are specially programmed cards. These debit and credit cards are provided by a financial institution that you maintain an account with. However, you can only withdraw (debit) funds if you have deposited (credited) money in that account. When you withdraw money from your account using your credit card you are actually borrowing money from the bank and you need to repay those funds within a specific time. Debit and credit cards are also accepted in stores, supermarkets and other businesses. Therefore, kids should know that if you are with your parent or guardian at the ATM the next time, you will know that the machine is not randomly giving away money!One way a parent or guardian may help their children at an early age to save and invest is to start an account with or for your child with a Gift Certificate. It may not be what they would want, but in the long term they will appreciate it when they see their investment growing. Remember, instead of spending money received for birthdays or Christmas, invest these funds and watch your money grow.If you are a parent or a guardian and would like further information on this and related topics, then feel free to attend a presentation on Money Basics for Kids this Thursday at Bookophilia.Deborah Vieira is a Wealth Advisor at Stocks and Securities Limited and can be contacted via dvieira@sslinvest.com.