Pupils of Lendore Hindu Primary School, from infants to standard five, were treated to stories from several guest speakers on World Read Aloud Day.

World Read Aloud Day is recognised on February 2 and is in its 13th year. The Nation Library (Nalis) also participated with pre-recorded readings from local personalities including Wendy Fitz-Williams and Sharon Rowley, wife of the Prime Minister.

The school hosted ten guest speakers, including local authors and members of the media, who read for each of their 15 classes. Two reporters from Newsday also participated.

[caption id="attachment_938538" align="alignnone" width="828"] Bavita Gopaulchan reads to pupils of Lendore Hindu Primary School during the World Read Aloud Day activity organised by the school. -[/caption]

The school’s principal, Roger Rosan, said the guest speakers who volunteered serve as role models the children can emulate and learn from. “It was a great motivation for parents and students to log on and be a part of.”

Teacher Usha Sawh said the aim of World Read Aloud Day is to create literacy awareness and engage children. “We want to promote critical thinking and have a community of critical thinkers and people who can make a difference. The only way to do that is through reading.”

Another teacher, Lilawati Cheddie, said her pupils were “overly-excited” to participate after hearing who would be reading to them. “One of the students was quick to say he was familiar with one of the reporters who read to them as he was a relative. That was a source of encouragement for the child to want to learn and read. Another child stayed in the class all day.”

She said the stories read also gave the pupils confidence that they can overcome whatever situations they are in.

Standard four and five teacher Sean Heeraman said his pupils are preparing for examinations in March and the read-aloud sessions instilled in them a sense of excitement about the written word. “The drama and annunciation of the stories got them excited, and they wanted to read more. The story wasn’t finished, and they wanted more. It piqued their interest.”

[caption id="attachment_938540" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Newsday reporter Tyrell Gittens reads for pupils of the Lendore Hindu Primary School on February 2 during World Read Aloud Day. -[/caption]

He said the school understands the importance of the oral tradition and takes every opportunity to read aloud to its pupils. “As adults we love being read to as well. The best way to hear our dialect and full effect of our language is being read to.”

Heeraman joked that while on other days his pupils would complain of connectivity issues, on Wednesday everyone was present and accounted for with no technical issues. “Everyday these kids have issues, but (Wednesday), no issues,” he said with a laugh. “They would ask, ‘Sir, my camera working?’ It was the high point of their day.”

He said in the physical environment before the pandemic, the school would host more visitors but it hadn’t been like that for the past two years