Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has bemoaned the poor reading culture in the various educational institutions in the country, particularly the primary level.

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During a press briefing on Tuesday ahead of the grand opening of the Accra World Book Capital, the Education Minister revealed that as of 2022, about 38 percent of students in Primary 2 across the country could read - an improvement of the 2 percent recorded in 2015.

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This indicates that 62 percent of these students are unable to read.

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"In our own dear country Ghana, in 2015, primary 2, only 2 per cent could read. Various interventions that have been put in place have allowed us to know from our last 2022 national assessment which every student in primary 2 was assessed, we have now moved to 38 per cent.

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"It is no mere accomplishment but I am not happy. When we say that 62 percent of the students can still not read," he stated.

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Despite the 36 percent improvement in seven years, he noted that the current statistics is "unacceptable."

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The Education Minister indicated that a primary 4 assessment has been conducted and "we are waiting to see the results."

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According to Dr Adutwum, the poor culture of reading in society has translated into what has been recorded in schools, even at the primary level.

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He noted that reading should not be coerced but be accepted as a fun habit which transforms minds and subsequently reshapes society.

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"Books transform minds. And minds transform society. We can't talk about the transformation of our nation without bringing to bear the importance of reading and in getting children who read for fun.

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I think that is what we need to do more. Children should not see reading as something required by school. If they see it as something required by school, when they graduate they do not read any longer and that is not how you create lifelong learners," he bemoaned.

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He therefore spoke greatly of the Accra World Book Capital initiative noting that its objective is to ensure that individuals are excited about picking up books and reading.

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The minister pledged that "we are going to do everything possible to take advantage of the spotlight which is on Accra to begin to not just improve literacy among students, create a culture of life learning but beyond that."

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"Also give opportunities for people to write and publish for us to buy and read," he further noted.

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Research shows that reading builds one's vocabulary, empathy, reduces stress and depression symptoms, prevents age-related cognitive decline and extends one's lifespan.

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In September 2021, Accra was selected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as the 2023 World Book Capital, following evaluation by the World Book Capital Advisory Committee.

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President Akufo-Addo will on April 24, 2023, perform the grand opening of the Accra World Book Capital, 2023 at the Accra Conference Centre.

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In attendance at the event would be a wide array of important international personalities including Members of the Diplomatic Community in Ghana, UNESCO Representatives in the Africa Region and its Paris headquarters, and Directors as well as Representatives of the United Nations Agencies home and abroad.

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The others include Development Partners, City Mayors from the World Book Capital Network, and personalities from the International Publishers Association (IPA), the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), as well as the International Authors Forum (IAF).

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Source: The Independent Ghana

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