Her Excellency the Most Honourable Lady Allen is again adding her support to the initiative by GraceKennedy Remittance Services to strengthen reading skills among primary school children. Speaking at the launch of the I Pledge Programme and Reading Week at Ascot Primary School in Portmore on April 2, Lady Allen said “Jamaica will be in a better position to achieve its national goals if our people are so well educated that they can compete effectively in the global market.”
Noting that literacy rates are not where we want them to be, Lady Allen said that everyone must play his part in preparing Jamaica’s children for the future. “The I Pledge Programme makes partners of all of us who believe in doing our best to
provide a good education for our children. It motivates us to keep our pledge to encourage our children to study well and read widely,” she declared. She told the students at Ascot Primary that they must read widely if they want to hold a good position in the occupation of their choice.
Lady Allen commended GraceKennedy Remittance Services for its practical and timely support of primary education which is being observed this year under the theme: “A Great Reader makes a Great Leader.” Following the official launch, Her Excellency read to Grade 5 students from a novel entitled ‘Sally’s Way.’ The novel illustrated practical examples of what can be achieved through hard work.
Also reading to and interacting with the students were Executives from GraceKennedy Group Limited; Dr. Mark Nicely, President of the Jamaica Teachers Association and members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.