Accra Dec. 27, GNA - The culture of reading must be revitalised, especially in public schools to make pupils competitive with their counterparts in private institutions, Executive Director of the Foundation for Deprived Children, Ghana (FDCG), a local NGO has said.

Mr. Foster Gish, said: "studies have shown that the desire and interest to read has declined considerably in Ghanaian pupils and little or nothing at all is being done to revert the situation." Presenting educational materials worth over 10,000 dollars to selected schools in Accra, Ashanti and Central Regions last Friday, Mr. Gish said even though many factors could be cited for the fall in educational standards, poor reading habit stood tall among them.

The items, which included readings books, research materials, pens, pencils and foot wares, went to the La Antenson Catholic Primary School in La. Similar items of same value were also donated to some schools in Ashanti and Central Regions.

The aim, according to Mr. Gish was not only to assist the schools with the items but also help to encourage the habit of reading through supporting the teachers to place more importance on reading lessons for their pupils.

He said the Foundation plans to establish mini libraries in the schools it would lend support to promote the culture of reading. "Reading is very good because one would be able to acquire more knowledge which will help broaden one's mind. Reading is a single activity and that alone can lift people to gain knowledge. "Research from statistics available indicates that reading is not popular in Ghana; so we need to read in life to progress", he said. Nii Amasah Namoale, Member of Parliament for Dadekotopon who presented the items on behalf of the Foundation advised the pupils to take their learning serious because the nation's prospect depends largely on them.

He said, as children the most valuable property a parent could leave behind was education, adding; "A child's duty is to learn while parents cater for the financial needs."