Sherigu (U/E), Aug. 22, GNA - A number of pupils in the Upper East Region have been camped at Sherigu near Bolgatanga to undergo six weeks of intensive training to cultivate the habit of reading. The training, which is organised by the Community Library and Reading Camp, a non=96governmental organization based in Bolgatanga, attracted about 900 pupils from Sherigu, Gowrie, Kunkua and Sumbrungu. The Programme was sponsored by the Chen Yet-Sen Family foundation based in the USA, Friends of Africa Village Library project and the Sustainable Rural Development also an NGO.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, Mr Lucas Amikiya Aligre, Coordinator of Community Library and Reading Camp Project, explained that the programme was initiated by Professor Michael Kevane of the Saint Clera University of California in the USA and had been running for about three years now during the holiday periods. The Project has set up libraries in some key schools and towns where pupils are encouraged to borrow books to read while follow-ups are made to monitor the use of the books. Mr Aligre explained that because of proliferation of the internet, most people, particularly the pupils, had resorted to patronising the internet at the expense of reading books. This, he noted, had affected the reading culture of Ghanaian pupils and students in general. He said the engagement of the school pupils at the reading camp had prevented them from engaging in negative activities at their various communities and therefore making them more focused in their studies. Mr Bernard Akulga, a Librarian, indicated that the camp had helped improved the reading culture of the pupils and that they no longer spent their time in the cafes viewing or surfing unnecessary information.

He stated that the pupils were taken through strategies in reading including pronunciation of words, how to identify vowels, consonants, meaning of words and letter writing. They were taught strategies in reading silently and loudly when it was necessary and made to explain the contents of the books to their colleagues and the lessons that could be learnt. Mr Akulga said the pupils were taken through reading and spelling competitions and said 93all these activities have inspired the pupils to read on their own and it is expected that it will help arrest the falling standards of education in the region." Two of the beneficiaries, Atanga Jacob and Anafo Susana, on behalf of their colleagues, commended the organisers and sponsors of the programme and said it should be extended to other communities in the region.