Mr Gabriel S. Kploanyi of Volta Regional Director of Education, on Thursday, charged teachers to design and execute programmes to inculcate reading habits among pupils and students in the region. He said this would help halt the falling standard of education in the region and serve as a major campaign against child illiteracy. Mr Kploanyi said this in a speech read on his behalf at the Regional International Children's Book Day, in Ho, on the theme, "A book is waiting for you, find it." He said, "Indeed if we are to continually raise the standard of education in the region, then we need to get the fundamentals of reading and writing." Mr Kploanyi asked teachers to get the child to learn how to read and continue reading children's books, a habit which would undoubtedly have a positive impact on the child and society. He advised them to motivate and encourage pupils and students to overcome challenges associated with reading and develop interest in the habit. Mr Kploanyi noted that child illiteracy remained a big challenge to education, appealing to stakeholders to lend their support to the Ghana Education Service towards addressing the challenge. He urged the Regional Library Board to extend its Essay and Reading Competitions to basic schools in all districts to give opportunities to pupils outside the regional capital. Mr Alikem Tamakloe, the Volta Regional Librarian, described child literacy as the foundation upon which the youth's career was built. He, therefore, urged "friends of the library" to support it organize activities to keep children's interest in reading through the traditional library and e-library. Schools and pupils who excelled in the Essay and Reading Competitions to mark the Day were given awards. Source: GNA