Ministry Education Literacy Program

PHILIPSBURG- The Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth & Sports, Education on the Move (EOM), the St. Maarten National Commission for UNESCO, and the SXM Reads Committee in commemoration of International Literacy Day, invited prominent figures in our society to volunteer their time to read at the different afterschool and community school programs on Thursday.

Fifty years ago, UNESCO officially proclaimed September 8th International Literacy Day to promote literacy as an instrument to empower individuals, communities and societies. The theme for the 50th anniversary is “Reading the Past, Writing the Future”.

International Literacy Day 2016 celebrates and honors the past five decades of national and international engagement, efforts and progress made to increase literacy rates around the world. It also addresses current challenges and looks to innovative solutions to further boost literacy in the future.

The various volunteers included Ministers, Parliamentarians, Government officials, Education on the Move (EOM) members, SXM reads committee members, St. Maarten National Commission for UNESCO and other prominent persons in the community.

These individuals read one of their favorite stories to children between the ages of 7 to 11 years, and engaged them in conversations after the reading. The reading sessions took place between 2pm and 5pm at the various afterschool and community school programs on the island.

This reading activity is one of the many activities that will be organized to promote literacy in our community in the month of September and throughout the rest of the year.

Photo 1 – Minister of Education Silveria Jacobs reads to Students of the Sister Marie Laurence after-school program.
Photo 2 – Prime Minister William Marlin being embraced by Students and Teachers of the Christian Hillside School after-school program after reading to them.