SIBU, March 13: Sarawak State Library has been urged to continue holding adult literacy programmes for homeless individuals at the temporary transit centre (TTG) here.
Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said such programmes are critical since reading and writing skills are essential to ensuring that these homeless people can find work and be independent.
She revealed that some homeless individuals in Sibu TTG failed job interviews because they were unable to write or count.
“Even though they are homeless persons but we want them to have reading skills as well because they could not pass job interviews because they are not good at reading; they lack self-confidence. So these are very important skills that they should have,” said Fatimah at the closing of a train-the-trainer workshop for adult literacy programmes here yesterday.
The Dalat assemblywoman hoped that this collaborative programme between the library and Sibu TTG will be expanded to three more TTGs which will be built in Kuching, Bintulu and Miri.
The Sarawak State Library had suggested that a reading corner be created in Sibu TTG. However, as the homeless individuals there do not have the ability to read and write, the library has proposed that the adult literacy programme be carried out.
A total of seven Sibu TTG residents participated in the two-day programme.
Also present at the closing ceremony was Sarawak State Library chief executive officer Japri Bujang Masli. — DayakDaily
