Uganda to host 11th Pan African Literacy Conference

Uganda is set to host the 11th Pan African literacy conference this month in a bid to ensure that the region consolidate the gains that have so far been achieved in promoting literacy.

According to the state minister for Primary Education, Rosemary Sseninde, the two day thematic conference will run from 20th to the 22nd August and will see participants discuss issues concerning thematic learning and the role of ICT in education.

“We want to ensure that literacy does not stop at lower levels from primary one to primary three. We want it across board, right at all levels," she said.

Addressing journalists on Friday, Sseninde noted that the major objective of the conference is to bring together international and national policy makers, researchers, practice experts to rethink strategies, policies and practices to position literacy as key and integral to delivering equity in Africa.

She said Uganda was selected because of the great improvement in the achievements it has been able to attain in the sustainable development goal in particular.

She noted that the ministry has been able to implement early grade reading methodology which has improved the literacy levels of the learners across the country.

“We want everyone to appreciate that we want to improve literacy, teaching and learning.we should not put emphasis on only speaking and making children just listening, there is so much more that can be done," she said.

She said that the idea of teaching the lower primary children in their mother languages will enable pupils to improve their reading skills and comprehension.

“We must put emphasis on thematic curriculum for a child to learn well, they should have early grade reading in their mother languages," she said.