Street Children Empowerment Foundation (SCEF) in collaboration with Book Aid International (BAI) has organized a three-day workshop on promoting reading and basic library management as part of its ‘’Reading is Basic’’ project.

The workshop was aimed at building the capacity of teachers in the Accra metropolis and the Ga South municipality to effectively manage libraries and enhance the reading capacity of children.

Participants were taken through lessons in setting up libraries, book processing, reading as therapy, running book clubs, child safeguarding among others.

Speaking at the workshop, the Executive Director of SCEF, Paul Semeh said education is one of the factors that are critical to the development of children.

He called on stakeholders to work together to make reading and learning easier, and fun for both rural and urban children.

‘’Education must not be the preserve of a privilege few, it is a basic right of all children. Therefore, as stakeholders, it is our duty to ensure that we promote effective reading among these children, especially the underprivileged ones because reading is basic and central to meeting their educational needs’’, he said.

On his part, the Africa Representative of BAI, James Kimani underscored the importance of reading to the attainment of quality education among children.

He also urged teachers to find innovative ways of making reading exciting for children.

‘’Promoting reading in schools is the first step to achieving quality education.

"That is why it is important to build the capacity of teachers and headteachers to be able to set up and manage libraries as well as promote reading among children," he stated.

Expressing their satisfaction with the workshop, participants said knowledge acquired will enable them to better assist the children to develop a sustained interest in reading to help improve their learning performance.

In an interview, the Head Teacher of OdumpralaM/A, Emmanuel Atiseh said,‘’ The workshop has been particularly very insightful for me. With the knowledge I have acquired, especially on how to use reading as a therapy, I am now well-positioned to help children overcome their reading challenges."

The workshop brought together 33 teachers, head teachers and officials of the Ghana Education service from the Accra Metropolis and Ga South Municipality.

'Reading is Basic' is a 12-month project funded by Book Aid International and Implemented by Street Children Empowerment Foundation.

The aim is to improve quality education by setting up libraries in some selected schools and promoting reading among children.