DGI AND UNICEF SURINAME ORGANIZE L3S WORKSHOP
The DGI Foundation from The Netherlands and UNICEF Suriname jointly organized a train the trainer workshop for organisations in Suriname working in the field of literacy. The workshop was held on 15 July 2009 and took place at the UNICEF office in Paramaribo, the capital city of Suriname. Participants among others included representatives of various organisations in regular and special education for both children and adults
Illiteracy still is a big problem globally. Although a number of years ago statistics for Suriname indicated that the percentage of literate persons aged 15 and older would amount to 94, -hidden- illiteracy continues to remain a problem. This holds especially for the slum areas of Paramaribo, as well as for the districts and the interior parts of the country.
The goal of the workshop was to let participants become familiar with the L3S Basic Literacy Method, developed by DGI. This method, making use of the innovative ‘talking pen’ technology developed in China, has proved to be successful in a number of trial projects in Suriname already. Schedule, didactics and practical implementation constituted important elements of the training. Through role plays and practical examples it was shown in which way the L3S method could be used in new or existing literacy programmes.
It was with great enthousiasm that the trainers participated in the workshop. By using interactive didactic work forms and by creating a relaxed atmosphere, workshop leader Ms Franciska Lie of DGI managed to let everyone become effectively acquainted with the L3S method. The positive reactions at the end also showed that the workshop, co-ordinated by UNICEF, could be considered a success.
The planning for the follow-up has now been that from October 2009 through January 2010 through UNICEF a number of L3S pilot projects will be carried out in Suriname. In these projects special attention will be given to the co-operation between teachers, parents and students. In co-operation with the university of Leuven in Belgium, the Ministry of Education of Suriname will closely monitor the results of these projects. Subsequently it will be determined in which way the L3S method could best be rolled out nationally.
Organisations participating in the workshop a.o. included the Ministry of Education (Curriculum Development), PCOS foundation, SUCET foundation.
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