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April 9, 2009
Jamalco Book Programme Supports National Literacy Goals
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Jamalco has been commended by the Ministry of Education and the Jamaica Library Service (JLS) for its on-going investment in Jamaica’s education system through its continued donation of books to educational institutions island wide.
The commendations came at a ceremony to mark the 28th anniversary of the Jamalco Book Porgramme and the start of the 2009 book distribution drive at the Clarendon based bauxite/alumina refinery yesterday (Wednesday, April 8). The Book Project has been organized by Jamalco since 1981 to assist educational institutions in acquiring supplemental text books for their libraries and for classroom use.
Minister of Education, the Hon. Andrew Holness, in a message read by Consultant to the Ministry Alphonsus Davis, noted the company’s work with the ministry’s Literacy Coordinators in Region Six to get books supporting the school curriculum to schools in Clarendon and St. Catherine, particularly those whose students are reading below acceptable levels. He urged the company to broaden this targeted approach by working with the ministry to “identify schools across the nation with students who require the most support in terms of Literacy.”
And Director General of the Jamaica Library Service Patricia Roberts in her address at the ceremony noted the company’s on-going support of the JLS as the organizations “are both unwavering in a commitment to reading and have a non-negotiable mandate to confront and effectively deal with the scourge of illiteracy.”
The Jamalco Book Programme receives funding to cover the shipment of books from the Alcoa Foundation and Jamalco’s Managing Director Jerome Maxwell, who is also a Director of the Foundation, noted the positive impact of the Book Programme through the years. “Jamalco not only distributes the books but visits institutions to ensure that the books are being used,” he added.
The company’s Corporate Services and Government Affairs Manager Leo Lambert said the Book Programme is one of several sustainable community development strategies being employed by Jamalco in support of education.
“Our scholarship and educational assistance programme supports youth in need in our operating areas; our mentorship programme at Vere Technical assists at-risk students; while our Jamalco in Schools Programme is designed to re-orient young minds about the bauxite/alumina industry,” he explained.
The anniversary event also included remarks by retired Public and Community Relations Manager for Jamalco Blossom Laidlaw who recounted the development of the Book Programme including the construction of the Book Room in which the books are sorted, stamped and stored for distribution.
President of Brothers’ Brother Foundation Luke Hingson, through a video- taped message, also commended the partnership between his organization, Jamalco and the Alcoa Foundation which has brought over 500,000 new books to Jamaica during the years.
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