KETMANSHOOP— //Kharas governor Aletha Frederick has praised the recent readathon held in the region as a testament to the education fraternity’s collective commitment to fostering a culture of reading and writing among pupils.
This was her view when she delivered the keynote address during a readathon held under the theme: ‘Read Namibia: Discovering the Strength of Arts and Culture Through Reading’.
“We are here to promote literacy as cornerstone of educational success,” she explained to those present and emphasised that reading is not merely an academic skill but a gateway to knowledge, creativity and critical thinking.
A read-a-thon (or readathon) started as a school fundraising idea that encourages lifelong reading habits among pupils. During the fundraiser, the pupils try to read as much as they can, logging the time spent reading while friends and family members make donations to support their efforts.
“To this end, we are committed to enhancing Early Childhood Development (ECD) programmes across the //Kharas region, and by laying a strong foundation in these formative years, we can ensure that children master the alphabet and word-building skills at an early age,” she added.
Frederick further said this foundational knowledge will ease the children’s journey into reading and writing, making it an enjoyable experience rather than a daunting task.
She also urged stakeholders to encourage innovative approaches in classrooms — methods that inspire curiosity and foster the love for reading. As children find joy in learning, they are more likely to pursue mastery in reading as a prerequisite for academic success.
“Public and school libraries play a pivotal role in this endeavour as they are custodians of knowledge, providing access to diverse literature that sparks imagination and broadens horizons,” she said.
Frederick added: “Through initiatives like the readathon, we aim to create environments where children feel encouraged to explore books beyond their curriculum.”
She then reminded pupils that books hold immense knowledge and beauty within them, as through books they can travel to places and spaces across time and space without ever leaving their homes. “Together we can cultivate a generation of readers who will not only thrive academically but also contribute meaningfully to society as informed citizens equipped with the strength derived from arts and culture through reading,” she said.
When interviewed by New Era, Bernadette Rhode,a Grade eight pupil from Keetmanshoop Secondary School, said she found the event very interesting andhad learnt a lot from it.
“The discussions inspired me to spend
more time reading and broadening my general knowledge,” she said adding that through regular reading, one can also get advice and learn from other people’s life experiences.
Grade nine pupil Raia Motinga, said through the readathon experience she will now partake in the upcoming spelling-B reading competition. “The information found in books can also assist me to improve my spelling and vocabulary,” she said.