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Reading comprehension essential for survival & development - Umoja

Host of the popular Umoja Talk show host, Cromwell Smith, said reading comprehension is important for development and survival. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – One of the challenges that we face in our community is reading comprehension. This was the view of Cromwell Smith, host of the talk show programme, Umoja.

Smith, aka Edju En Ka expressed this view following what he deemed a relatively poor turnout for the recent Spelling Bee competition which was held in the Eileene L Parsons auditorium at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College. 

Speaking on the Umoja show aired on September 13, 2012 on a local radio station Smith said “a lot of us could spell, but when it comes to reading comprehension, understanding what we have read... we have some challenges with that”. 

Smith expressed that the importance of this emerges in the signing of contracts and agreements that are being engaged in.  “We are vulnerable because of our inability to read and understand and think cognitively,” the host said. 

Some of these agreements he expressed may not only make us vulnerable toward an adverse impact, but also our children in the future who will have to “live through the terms and the years of the agreements” signed . 

“Reading is significant,” Edju En Ka continued, “and that is only from one perspective.” 

He noted that there is also the realm of gaining information, expressing that one can gain a limited amount of information by listening but a “vast array of information is in books, and if we are unable to read and understand that information we are missing out on a lot of important information necessary for our survival and necessary for our development.” 

He concluded that reading is perhaps the most important thing we could do apart from eating properly. “Reading is probably second to nutrition, that is why teaching is really the noblest of all professions.” 

So it is sad, that we are not paying more attention to reading,  he added.

11 Responses to “Reading comprehension essential for survival & development - Umoja”

  • Celia R. Georges (16/09/2012, 10:35) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Thank you Cromwell, for acknowledging that teaching is a noble profession! While teachers may never be big money earners, never "make big money" we certainly make a huge difference in the lives of our students! We make them comprehend! We make them become BIG MONEY EARNERS!
    • USA Student (16/09/2012, 14:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I agree about the teachers and value placed to it. I love when our Miss BVI decasro did her talent at the queen show on what is means to be a teacher and that "yes she makes a difference"..that was a powerful message.
    • $$$$ (16/09/2012, 14:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      'Teachers may not be big money earners but they make other people becom big money earners'. It seems to me that the teachers themselves might need a lesson or two as it is very difficult to survive these days on hard work and very little $$$$.
      • wet well (16/09/2012, 16:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        well said the teachers need a rasie myron promised one but never came through....
      • Tears (17/09/2012, 07:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Yes! Teachers need a raise but the Minister needs to do an investigation into Human Resource Management under Education. Do you think it is fair that their are teachers without a post working their butts off when their are persons holding up teaching post and not teaching because they are not fit to teach. They are walking about doing everything else but teaching and collecting top teacher salary. Minister do an investigation and you will be shocked as to what is going on. How should hard working teachers feel when such nonsense is going on.
  • south sea (16/09/2012, 10:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am not a fan of Comwell but I agree with him here..lots of big man and women can’t read in this place..I see it in my line of work!!!
  • ausar (16/09/2012, 12:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    If the library is any indication, it is surely a clue that the officials don't give a damn about reading much less comprehension!!
    • talk is cheap (17/09/2012, 23:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      that is a very good point and we have gotten just lip service on that topic from the new government
  • E. Leonard (16/09/2012, 18:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    In addition to reading comprehension, we need to add writing, STEM ( science, technology, engineering, math), rational thinking, critical thinking, humanities and art to the list of fundamental skills needed for continued economic growth and economic development. The world is a global village; it is a knowledge society. Land, labor and capital are traditional key resources. Now, knowledge can be added to the list as a key resource.

    The economies of developed and other developing nations are transitioning from agriculture and service to a knowledge-base economy. In the past, cheap labour provided a comparative advantage for many developing countries. Now, this has changed. Knowledge is now the new, comparative advantage tool. The BVI if it is to be competitive in the global economy must join the the knowledge society and must do so with alacrity.

    The BVI transformed slowly from an agricultural to tourism and financial services economy. But it needs to quicken the pace transforming to a knowledge-based economy. And a key player(s) in ramping up this effort is TEACHERS. They are the tip of the spear, the leading edge, and the core of improving the education and training effort. The value of education and training must be effectively promoted and adequately resourced. Failing to quickly focus and buy into it , may set our progress, competitiveness, quality of life and standard of living back.
  • teacher john (17/09/2012, 00:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    for once Mr. Smith aint talkin cocka may may, i agree wid he on tis!
  • Boo (22/09/2012, 09:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

    Cromwell actually making a good point.



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