Strong Support for Read Across Jamaica Day At Exchange Primary

There was an outpouring of support for Read Across Jamaica Day at Exchange Primary School in St. Ann on Tuesday (May 6), with representatives from government, the private sector and civil society conducting reading sessions with the students.

Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change and Member of Parliament for St. Ann North Eastern, Hon. Matthew Samuda, who was on hand, noted the importance of the day in promoting literacy.

“Reading is the [foundation] of our learning and the more we learn to love it, the more our educational outcomes will improve,” he told JIS News.

The Sandals Foundation and the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) also supported the initiative through book donations and interactive reading sessions with students.

General Manager at Sandals Ochi Beach Resort, Carol Bourke, said that team members were pleased to support the day’s activities, and meaningfully engage with the children.

“It is about the knowledge that we can impart to the students and creating a positive environment for reading,” she told JIS News.

Ms. Bourke noted that the students were keen on the lessons imparted even as they had fun reading.

Acting Principal of Exchange Primary School, Natalie Oates Johnson, welcomed the donation of books and other items, and the strong turnout from community members, parents, and partners in support of literacy.

She encouraged the stakeholders to continue supporting the school beyond the annual observance.

“Whenever they have the time, we encourage them to come in and read to our children. We also have an early reading-intervention programme to support literacy at an early age,” she told JIS News.

Mrs. Oates Johnson said that the school will be enhancing its library and classroom reading spaces with the books that were donated.

“Each classroom has its own reading corner, allowing students to engage in reading comfortably within their learning environment,” she pointed out.