Mr Mathias Tulasi, the CEO of Literacy Ambassadors Ghana has called on His Excellency John Dramani Mahama to consider kicking off the 24-Hour Economy Policy with the Ghana Library Authority.
Mr Mathias Tulasi, has said so at the World Read Aloud Day Celebration held at St. Paul’s Anglican Basic School, Agbozume.
According to him, it will increase accessibility, provide space for studying, enhance productivity, create jobs etc.
He also noted, “every child who cannot read is a reminder that our work towards a more literate and equitable society is far from over.”
His full speech below:
SPEECH BY MR MATHIAS TULASI, CEO OF LITERACY AMBASSADORS GHANA AT THE 2025 WORLD READ ALOUD DAY CELEBRATION HELD AT ST. PAUL’s ANGLICAN BASIC SCHOOL, AGBOZUME.
Mr Chairman, Chiefs and Opinion Leaders, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Mr Chairman, permit me to start my speech with the history of World Read Aloud Day. Many years ago, in 2007, Mrs Pam Allyn, an American educator was in the classroom reading aloud to a group of learners. After the lesson, a little boy came up to her and said “Mrs Allyn, I wish we could do this more often. It feels so good and happy.”
Mrs Allyn, said to the little boy “I wish, we could too, but sometimes people think that the read aloud is not important to learning even though it really truly is. It helps all learners to learn to read because research shows us this!”
So, the little boy said “well, that’s an important information. When it is my birthday, people always pay a lot of attention to me. Why don’t we have a big party for the read aloud and then everyone will pay more attention to it?’’
To Mrs Pam Allyn, this thought by the little boy was an incredible idea! So, she went back to her office and told her team about what transpired.
They then selected a date and sent a message around Facebook (just starting at that time) and before they knew it one after the next, people were joining on with this idea. A day just for read aloud? What a wonderful idea, they said! And before they knew it, thousands of people had spread this idea on their own.
They then created a worldwide movement in a matter of weeks. It was amazing. In 2010, Litworld an organization Mrs Pam Allyn is a member officially selected first Wednesday in February each year as World Read Aloud Day. A dream started by a small boy!
Mr Chairman, as a country, we must never underestimate the critical role of basic education, of which reading is at its core in society.
It warms my heart that many stakeholders and learners have gathered here to celebrate the 2025 World Read Aloud Day.
The vast array of stakeholders here today, is a testament to our conviction to deliver improved quality education in our lifetime, of which reading for meaning is the apex priority.
This multi-stakeholder reading initiative seeks to avoid this eventuality of learners without literacy foundations although they are at school.
We have to do everything in our power as social partners to ensure that all learners in our basic education ecosystem acquire basic literacy and numeracy skills.Hence, our support for World Read Aloud Day, which is about celebrating the power of reading aloud.
The power of migrating words.We must use our classrooms as a conduit to create a new tale for the African child.
Mr Chairman, ladies and gentlemen. We owe this generation of learners and posterity to birth a new basic education ecosystem that enables at least one learner, one book, a classroom and a teacher across the country.
As we converge here as partners on this World Read Aloud Day, it gives us the mileage we need to ignite a love and regular practice of reading and story sharing in our classrooms, homes and beyond. This sustained reading initiative responds to the caution from experts that “reading is not a portion of education, but education itself.”
I will like to urge all heads, teachers and parents to consider reading for meaning a critical ingredient in improving learner outcomes.
Mr Chairman, it important for me to state that the 24 Hour- Ecomony Policy as proposed by His Excellency John Dramani Mahama should kick off with the Ghana Library Authority to increase accessibility, provide space for studying, enhance productivity, create jobs etc.
As I bring my speech to an end, let me state that every child who cannot read is a reminder that our work towards a more literate and equitable society is far from over.
I thank our partners and all other stakeholders for their continued support and wise counsel for this event and the education sector as a whole. I thank you.
