By Shirlyn Belden.
A community literacy program meant for people living with HIV has attracted more students than expected.
The Anglicare Port Moresby Literacy School enrolled 25 students and turned away more than 20 because of limited space, funds, manpower and resources.
As early as 8am on Monday more than 30 people, mainly mothers and youths, lined the school corridors with their K5 registration fee at the Anglicare office in Waigani, Port Moresby.
“There are issues which contribute to the downsizing of student intakes: one is to provide a more conducive learning environment where there is less crowding, enabling more teacher-student interaction and providing special coaching classes,” program coordinator Bernard Paru said.
The school was established by Anglicare five years ago for people living with HIV in an attempt to eradicate illiteracy as an impediment in HIV/AIDS awareness and stigma and discrimination in the country.
This year it is accepting youths who dropped out of formal education to help them sustain their living by securing employment after training.
The program consists of two semesters of 20 weeks each and is funded by Anglicare.
Courses include basic literacy, numeracy, health and hygiene and life skills – integrating social topics which will help them make better decisions in life.
Paru said in a statement this week that Anglicare was planning on establishing partnerships with civil society organizations that would support its cause of setting up adult literacy schools in NCD and Central.
We are looking at training 20-25 teachers and enrolling up 30 students per school.
Formal classes will start on Feb 20.
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