The Minister of Education and Member of Parliament for the Bosomtwe Constituency, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has urged parents and guardians to unlock their children’s language potential through reading and learning skills.
He emphasized that children who can speak multiple languages tend to excel academically.
Speaking during the celebration of the 2024 International Literacy Day, Dr. Adutwum noted that proficiency in local dialects, as well as foreign languages, enhances cognitive skills and memory, fostering global understanding and connections.
He stated that exposure to new cultures and perspectives opens more opportunities for children who speak multiple languages compared to those who only speak one.
The Education Minister highlighted the critical role parents play in shaping their children’s futures through reading, writing, and speaking their local languages.
He reiterated the government’s vision for 90% of the population to achieve reading proficiency, as this is vital for national development.
Dr. Adutwum’s remarks were supported by Dr. Mrs. Catherine Agyapomaa Appiah Pinkrah, Executive Director of the Complementary Education Agency (CEA), who emphasized the importance of education as the backbone of every country.
She noted that the partnership between CEA and UNESCO aims to improve reading and learning capacities for both young and old individuals, ensuring that education remains accessible to all, regardless of age or background.
This year’s International Literacy Day theme, “Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace,” aligns with the Minister’s call for a focus on language skills as a means to enhance educational outcomes and societal cohesion.
