Editor,

Allow me to react to Stephen Mugisha’s article, "The power of literacy in the transformation of a nation” (The New Times, February 11).

It is encouraging to note that reading is the foundation of learning. At the international level, basic skills have been set at primary three (P3) and proficiency skills in reading at primary six (P6).

Governments need to promote the reading culture through training teachers on initiating reading competitions and improving classroom participation of their students.

Reading and supplementary materials have to be procured and provided to schools, mobile libraries and reading corners have to be decentralised at the school level.

School level competitions in debating and writing need to be initiated, and strengthened where they are already in practice. With these interventions, we can make substantive progress and I know Rwanda is already making a significant progress.

Kimenyi, Kenya