PR - In the lead up to International Literacy Day on 8 September, the South Pacific Community (SPC) is conducting a campaign with Pacific education ministries to raise awareness on the importance of reading.

The campaign includes the launch of a multi-media competition today which is open to children up to 16 years old from SPC member countries.

Literacy and numeracy skills provide a foundation for future generations to succeed at school and in life. The campaign, led by SPC’s Educational Quality and Assessment Programme aims to highlight how reading skills are of use in so many aspects of life beyond the classroom.

“Kids listen to other kids, so the idea behind this regional competition is exactly that, kids talking to other kids about reading. All they need to do is share a story, preferably their own experience, about how reading has helped them and their communities,” Pacific Community EQAP Director, Michelle Belisle said.

Bearing in mind the varied technological capabilities of Pacific Island countries and territories, entries can be submitted as a letter or email, a storybook with illustrations, a poster with illustrations or as a short video.

The best entries from each of these categories will feature on selected websites, media platforms and shared with schools in the build up to International Literacy Day and can also be used in future campaigns to promote the importance of reading. 

The competition is open to entries from: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna.