Guyana Chronicle
May 25, 2001

THE Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE), University of Guyana, officially launched a literacy programme yesterday at the Houston Community High School, East Bank Demerara.

The programme is part of the Institute's continuing efforts to help create a learning society by empowering people, particularly youth, seeking access to learning apart from the mainstream secondary and tertiary education.

The IDCE is already conducting a similar programme in Linden, Berbice and other communities in Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica). The programme was made possible through collaboration with the Christian Children's Fund.

Three classes have already started at the St Pius Primary School, while three others will be conducted at the Houston Community High School.

The programme offers participants a chance to improve in mathematical and language skills. It also provides them with skills to develop and sustain small businesses.

The IDCE in April 1998 began a `Skills for Success' Programme in partnership with the Association of Canadian Community Colleges to provide young Guyanese with skills in literacy, numeracy and entrepreneurship.

The programme targets youth between the ages of 14 to 25 although persons above the age limit have been allowed to participate.

The Canadian facilitators have conducted training of trainers workshops here and also monitor the programme at intervals.

A team from Guyana is due to visit Canada shortly to participate in a trainers' workshop.

Upon return, the group will conduct similar workshops to better equip tutors in phases of literacy training in Linden, Georgetown and Berbice.

The `Skills for Success' work books are being used in all the literacy programmes, which are being run through links forged by the IDCE.

The Rotary Club and the United Nations Drug Demand Control Programme are also partners in literacy with IDCE, facilitating six classes in the Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, and Tiger Bay, Georgetown areas.

Another `Skills for Success' programme will soon begin in Sophia, Georgetown, the organisers said.