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The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Rasmus Foundation and education partners, is celebrating the continued expansion of the Jumpstart Literacy Programme, an innovative initiative designed to strengthen foundational reading skills and ensure every child has the opportunity to become a confident reader from the earliest years of schooling.

The programme was developed in response to concerns that many students were entering secondary school without the reading proficiency needed for academic success. Following classroom observations, school visits, and consultations with the Ministry of Education, programme developers shifted their focus to intervening earlier by working with feeder primary schools to build strong literacy foundations from the beginning of a child's education.

The author and representative of the Rasmus Foundation, Alix Anson, said Jumpstart was created to address a genuine need within the education system. She explained that focusing on literacy development in the early primary years presents an opportunity for intervention.

The Jumpstart Literacy Programme primarily targets students in kindergarten, grade one, and grade two, guiding them through a structured sequence of literacy development. The programme also includes intervention materials for older students who require additional reading support, ensuring that struggling learners are not left behind.

Lead Coordinator for the Jumpstart Programme in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Gaylene Wickham, highlighted the collaborative approach to implementing the initiative across participating schools. She noted that strong support from teachers and school leaders, together with ongoing coaching provided by Jumpstart coach Thelma Charles, has been instrumental in strengthening classroom instruction and improving student outcomes.

Education Officer in the Language, Literacy, and Communication Department of the Curriculum Development Unit, Fitzroy Stapleton, underscored the importance of partnerships among educators, schools, and the Ministry of Education in achieving sustainable improvements in literacy nationwide.

One of the programme's distinguishing features is its original alphabet of images, an innovative teaching tool that helps young learners connect letters, sounds, and meaning through a visual and phonetic approach. This method supports early comprehension and builds students' confidence as they progress from recognising letters to reading words independently.

The curriculum also incorporates carefully sequenced activities that develop handwriting, letter formation, and phonemic awareness. As students advance through the programme, they build a growing vocabulary of familiar words, enabling many children to read simple words confidently by the end of the first kindergarten book. The programme continues through two books at the kindergarten level, followed by two books each for Grades One and Two, creating a continuous pathway for literacy development.

In addition to student learning materials, the initiative provides ongoing mentoring and coaching for teachers to strengthen instructional practices and promote consistent, high-quality literacy instruction across participating schools.

Stakeholders remain committed to improving literacy outcomes, narrowing reading gaps, and ensuring that children in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines develop the foundational reading skills needed for lifelong learning, academic success, and future opportunities.

The Mustique Charitable Trust Foundation is funding the Jumpstart Literacy Programme.

SOURCE: Agency For Public Information (API)