Primary School students were able to engage in interactive reading sessions hosted by the National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS) and the Office of the Prime Minister – Communications, in commemoration of International Literacy Day.

Members of Parliament, a Police Officer and library staff facilitated the readings on September 04 and September 10 at various public and community libraries throughout Trinidad and Tobago and at the Lower Morvant Government Primary School.

Participating Members of Parliament included MP Symon de Nobriga at the Diego Martin Public Library, MP Pennelope Beckles-Robinson and MP Lisa Morris-Julian at the Arima Public Library, MP Fitzgerald Hinds at the Beetham Gardens Community Library, MP Adrian Leonce at the Lower Morvant Government Primary School, MP Camille Robinson-Regis at the Maloney Public Library, MP Terrence Deyalsingh at the Mt Hope/Mt Lambert Community Library, MP Roger Monroe at the Sangre Grande Public Library, MP Dr. Rishad Seecheran at the St. Helena Community Library and MP Esmond Forde at the Tunapuna Public Library.

The students were gifted tokens sponsored by Trinre Insurance Company.

This year’s theme “Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace,” highlighted the pivotal role of literacy in fostering a more equitable, peaceful and sustainable society. In keeping with the theme, the students were encourage to repeat the phrase “Read in Every Language, Unite in Every Word” in either the Spanish or the French translation. This activity further highlighted the importance of multilingualism in promoting understanding and unity.

These sessions aimed to emphasise the critical importance of literacy as well as to facilitate the educational development of the students.

International Literacy Day is celebrated annually on September 08 to raise awareness about literacy challenges, locally and internationally.