The Ministry of Information recently set up a Literacy Camp programme in Vanua Levu as part of its efforts to strengthen current platforms to disseminate information to the public especially those in the rural or remote communities.

Ministry of Information, National Archives and Library Services of Fiji permanent secretary Sharon Smith Johns says that this is part of the Ministry’s efforts in taking information down to the grassroots level.

“Government is concerned at addressing literacy level in the country which stands at 94 per cent and at the heart of this commitment is reaching out to rural and remote communities,” Smith Johns said.

“It is also part of the Ministry’s efforts in decentralising information centres and libraries.”

She added that the piloting of its new program will also involve a Literacy Camp for school children from the age of 5 years to 14 years.

“There were big turnouts from the students in which we register 130 participants, and we were fortunate that we had six Peace Corp volunteers that assist us on this program,” Ms Smith – Johns said.

The Ministry is confident of taking literacy and government policies, programmes, achievements and services to settlements and communities where these services were not made available in the past.

“Taking Government services out to the rural areas is also part of the Government’s contribution towards achieving its MDG’s which has a key pillar to achieving universal primary education,” she added.

The Literacy Camp programme was piloted in Naweni, Savusavu.

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