Rivers state government has re-emphasized its commitment to improve literacy through the provision of compulsory and free education in primary and secondary schools in the state.

Governor Chibuike Amaechi, represented by the State Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi, said in a keynote address at the 2013 International Literacy Day in Port Harcourt with the theme: ‘Literacies for the 21st Century’, said the commitment of government to expose students to library and ICT facilities in the new model schools are indications that assistance is coming in for students to improve their knowledge to compete favourably with their counterparts elsewhere.

The governor said further that the existence of Adult and Non-formal Education in the state has enabled his administration to commence the Adult Education Campaign whereby market men and women who are not literate could have unfettered access to education in the state.

She assured that the Chibuike Amaechi administration is prepared to ensure Rivers people get access to more literacy skills and participate in the global social and economic space.

In reaction, the Chairman of the World Literacy Day and State president of Association of Principals of Schools, Mrs Augusta Fubara commended the passion of Governor Amaechi for giving education priority in the state.

Also the consultant of the programme, Kaine Agary expressed appreciation for the pace of development in Public Schools andapplauded Governor Amaechi’s development initiatives in the education sector towards building a better society and moral upbringing of students in the state.

She tasked teachers on the need to ensure they impact positive knowledge on students to create a productive society.

High point of the occasion was book reading competition and the presentation of computers and printers to winning schools.

The winners commended Rivers state government for organizing the competition.