‘READ-A-THON’ LITERACY PROGRAM — Bamidele Segun
Have you heard about the word ‘Marathon’? What comes into your mind? Now think about ‘Read-a-thon’, can you guess what it’s about?
In 2021, I joined the Teach for Nigeria Fellowship. I joined the Fellowship because of my resolve to end education inequity in under-served, under-resourced communities in Nigeria.
The vision of the Fellowship is that ‘One day, every Nigerian child shall have equal access to quality education. This vision aligned with mine, so I joined the Fellowship to bring about social impacts and changes more effectively as part of an organization committed to the same goal as myself.
I was posted to Ansar-ud-deen Primary School, Imeko-Afon, Ogun State, Nigeria in September 2021. The first thing I did was to conduct a diagnostic assessment to know the understanding level of my learners. Through the test, I was able to know that most of my learners can’t read nor write clearly in English. Some can’t even speak English at all.
English is the official language of Nigeria- a country of more than 250 languages. Not being able to understand, communicate or write and read in English is definitely a BIG PROBLEM.
Through collaboration with my colleagues and support from our coach at Teach for Nigeria, we finally launched the ‘Read-a-thon’ program aimed at improving the literacy rate in Imeko, Ogun State. The brain behind this wonderful idea is Rachel Onimisi, a 2021 Teach for Nigeria Fellow at Saint Augustine Roman Catholic School 2, Imeko, Ogun State.
‘Read-a-thon’ as a name was inspired from the word ‘Marathon’. Similar to how a marathon is a lengthy exercise to improve body stamina and endurance, ‘Read-a-thon’ is a lengthy literacy exercise where learners are made to read texts from exciting storybooks. For every page read, there is a pledge (amount of money) made to the learner. This would motivate the learner to attempt as many pages as he/she can so he/she could get more money. This would instill in the learner — the love and addiction to reading books.
On the other hand, the funds raised (from the pledges) go into buying more books in schools within Imeko, so learners can have a variety of interesting books to read from — with the resultant aim of improving literacy as well as the love and culture for reading.
By the end of the program (which would run throughout the term until July), we aim to achieve the following:
1. The improved literacy rate among learners in Imeko. In addition, learners would develop in themselves, the urge to read.
2. Fundraising to buy more books and develop libraries in primary schools in Imeko. Most schools lack a functional library, and with the funds, we would generate through the program, we hope to buy as many books as we can for each school, so they can create a library of books from which learners can read.
3. Finally, we aim to bring about community engagement in the educational development of the town. This would be through making notable personalities in the community make pledges they would redeem. That way, they would contribute to the educational development of the community, which before now look almost non-existent.
