A new model of adult literacy teaching using television and video aides is to be piloted in Dominica beginning September this year.
The adult literacy program, spearheaded by the Adult Education Division, will cater to individuals who have difficulty in reading and writing.
Funded by The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our Americas (ALBA), the adult literacy program will be tested for three months in the first instance in selected communities with the hope of expansion throughout the country.
The “Yes I Can” adult literacy program was developed in Cuba in 2000 and has been successfully adopted in over 15 countries.
A team of literary specialists from Cuba ended a nine-day visit to Dominica on Wednesday. During their visit the Cuban officials met with educators and prepared them for implementing the pilot program in Dominica.
The program will be first introduced in eastern, southern and south western communities.
Head of the Cuban team of literary experts, Daisy Fernandez, at a news conference called on Wednesday expressed confidence in Dominica’s ability to successfully execute the program.
“During our visit to Dominica we have been able to share the most important details about the “Yes I Can” Literacy Program. We are confident that our Dominican brothers and sisters are in a good position now to implement the program in the different communities which the Adult Education Division has selected,” remarked Fernandez.
Meantime Dr. Philbert Aaron, Dominica’s ambassador to The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our Americas (ALBA), is optimistic about the impact that this program will have on Dominicans.
“This is another ALBA Project which is aimed at bringing improvement in the lives of people of Dominica and I am certain the value of the idea behind ALBA, which is the development of people, will clearly be in the forefront of this activity,” he pointed out.
Cuban Ambassador to Dominica her Excellency Juana Elena Ramos Rodriguez is convinced that the soon to be introduced adult literacy program will assist the country in becoming a society free of illiteracy.
“Through this literacy program, it is possible that people who did not have the opportunity to learn how to read and write can now do so. I think it’s a program which will have a huge social impact on the society. It is possible that Dominica will eventually be declared as a territory without illiterate people.” the Ambassador noted.
The “Yes I Can” pilot literacy program will commence in September this year and is scheduled for completion in November.
Dominicans please stop those negative comments before knowing the facts!! Jumping to conclusion without know facts is simply crippling the country. We have gotten to the point of being unable to analyze the simpiest situation free of politics.
What is wrong with a Literacy programme for Dominica? People there are many among you who are unable to read or write properly! Yes many of them young people.. What is wrong with trying to elevate their standards?
Who are the teachers that will take a class of adults for free in the evenings? Teachers who are paid normal salary, turn around and charge the very children for extra lessons later in the day or on weekends. Who will help who!
The last Literacy Survey in Dominica was in 1993 how do you know your literacy rate in 2013?
The aim of the Yes I Can programme is to eliminate illiteracy in Dominica. It could not have come at a better time. You would be surprise to know who is literate or who is not. Stop the criticism and come on board. You can be a volunteer in the programme.
Any literacy program is a great step towards a country development and should be embraced.It should also be noted that a literacy program should include some form of critical thinking analysis in it’s curriculum,especially in these times, when people are being hoodwinked,it is not only learning to read and write,learning to think is also essential.What good fortune for governments and rulers that the people do not think.
What are they coming to teach, English or Spanish????
Why can’t we have the Adult literacy as an ‘After School Program’ in our public schools taught by a couple teachers in the school a couple days a week. why do we need the advice of people from other countries that we cannot come up with ourselves, what is the ulterior motive?
Just thinking!
Why would you want to waste time reinventing the wheel? Have you never heard of best practices and transfer of technology?
We are so grateful for this opportunity, since it will assist the Adult Education Division to build on the hard work they are already doing. We are fully aware that the efforts made by the hard working staff get very little recognition.
Education is essential in obtaining a legal-paying job. Excellent idea and implementation. They will need writing books and pens so that they could make notes. Every one should have a TV. I visualize that it will be costly but Cuba will be footing the education bill.
Dominicans should welcome this new initiative which will be useful to those who are interested in reading, writing and speaking proper English (especially the youths; school dropouts or those who did not attend school) and will be instrumental in eradicating illiteracy in Dominica. I hope they all will be eager to embrace this golden opportunity. Welcome and good luck!
The fastest way to get rich is to rub shoulders with dictators. There loans and grants always flow from under the table, and into the pockets of puppet politicians.
The fastest way to wallow in ignorance is to have a mind like yours.
From Venezuela to Cuba? where next? N. Korea? look serious jokes. Dominicans are getting pushed out un-knowingly. Is there any more land in Dominica for negroes? like the “Negro Reserves.”
Sorry that won’t work..
start re-teaching civics in all learning areas..
citizens will me much more independant and more patriotic…thus enabling a better dominica..
the education system in dominica is presently gearing folks in the handout culture…
OMG More communists idealogy to destroy our democracy!
But I thought you said democracy dead in Dominica.
So what democracy there is to destroy again? Allu fellas like to speak on both sides of allu mouth twop tan!
“Our democracy?” what joke is that? you still have “democracy” in Dominica? you sleeping man!!! You reading about China influence in Dominica, Venezuela influence in Dominica, now Cuba in de pipe line and you still think you have “Democracy?” wake up from your dope.
Thats if you even know what the word communist mean. do a little research. find out for your self.i see noting wrong with free health care and free education. i see noting wrong leaving in a country where everybody iqual. no astaphans nassief, brisbane. airds and the rest of them have a chock hold on the country. where you cant afford to buy a piece of land cause is white man prices they selling it at.so do a little research.
love this
Long awaited, congrats to my friends at Adult Education who were working hard behind the scene putting the programme together, finally it has come to fruition.
I want to encourage the persons who know their limitations to embrace the opportunity. We all have our short comings don’t bother participate in the final analysis you stand to benefit tremendously. There is a feeling of gratification when you can pick up any literature/document and read, and you can sign your name with no problems. Go for it!!
Good initiative in the right direction. Our adults should make good use of this opportunity.
Very good move.
is this an admission that our own attempts have failed?
No it is not. It simply means that this very effective programme Will add to what is already being done. No effort is too much in the fight to eliminate illiteracy.
Good venture!! Hope those who are in need of it make good use of this program..it’s never too late to educate!!!
Great news! “Yes we can!”