UNESCO, Digicel, Knutsford Express sponsor WWKIDS Education Conference

Following the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s observance of World International Day of Literacy on September 8, the organisation has sponsored the Winsome Wishes for Kids (WWKIDS) Education Conference from October 1 to 3 at S Hotel Kingston.

Digicel and Knutsford Express have also sponsored the education conference, being held under the theme ‘Unlocking Potential: Advancing Literacy Through Early Development, Neurodiversity, and Family Empowerment’.

Nicole Bella, UNESCO’s senior education specialist, has commended the work done by WWKIDS to improve the children literacy rate in Jamaica, noting that, in Jamaica and other parts of the world, too many children still cannot read.

“Yet, literacy is the cornerstone of human potential, in particular, in the digital era, we live where reading alone is no more sufficient. Being able to think critically and distinguish opinions from fact in order to navigate the digital sphere is becoming a necessity that children should be equipped with in their early ages,” Bella said.

The UNESCO is a United nations agency that focuses on international cooperation in the areas of education, science, culture, and communication.

Meanwhile, Jamila Crooks-Brown, of the Digicel Foundation, said the telecommunications company was proud to support the meaningful initiative and to “contribute to the advancement of literacy and the removal of stigma surrounding special education in Jamaica”.

Marketing manager at Knutsford Express, Krystania Crichton, said the luxury passenger and courier transportation company was thrilled to officially be on board “for such an important and fantastic initiative and for the opportunity to be a sponsor of the education conference this October”.

65 PER CENT LITERACY RATE

The 2022 Grade Four Literacy Test revealed that the literacy rate of Jamaica’s children is approximately 65 per cent for primary-age children, with a significant amount not achieving mastery.

According to the Jamaica Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2022, 38 per cent of students ages seven to 14 had not acquired foundational reading skills.

The education conference will be coordinated by Simone Sobers of WWKIDS and targets educators, parents, literacy specialists and advocates.

The event features hands-on workshops, expert sessions, and conversations for educators, parents, and literacy specialists, aimed at providing practical, inclusive strategies to strengthen reading foundations and support children with learning challenges.

“S Hotel Kingston is honoured to support the education conference as part of our commitment to advancing knowledge and inspiring Jamaica’s future leaders,”

S Hotel’s Cindy Allen-Nunes noted as the hotel prepares for the conference.

Carl Gilchrist