1. International Literacy Day falls on Monday 8 September, and International Literacy Week runs from Monday 8 to Friday 12 September. All WCED institutions are encouraged to organise celebratory events to promote this significant occasion.

2. Such celebrations may involve staff, learners, parents and members of the wider community in one or more activities involving reading, storytelling and/or writing. Suggestions for such activities are provided in Appendix A.

3. Each EMDC will be organising celebrations of International Literacy Day for their officials. Details of these are given below:
3.1 EMDC Metropole Central: EMDC officials from various pillars will engage in a programme of book reading and debates around literacy. Proposals on how to enhance literacy across all learning areas will be explored. The EMDC Literacy Co-ordinator will liaise with schools on how they can implement possible activities for International Literacy Day.
3.2 EMDC Metropole East: Representatives from each pillar will take a book from the Western Cape College of Education library, read it and then share their book with the other pillars. The Ideas Truck will visit a number of schools with book displays. Local personalities will use books from the 100+ Reading Books Project to read stories to learners and teachers.
3.3 EMDC Metropole North: Candle lighting ceremony: EMDC staff will be invited to light a candle and place it on large cutout letters of the word ‘Literacy’ to commemorate all those people who are illiterate. Officials will be given the opportunity to share books (new or used) with other members of staff and will be encouraged to read to a child on that day. Staff will receive a special bookmark.
3.4 EMDC Metropole South: There will be a Literacy Exhibition at the EMDC Resource Centre for the whole week. This will include a display of books from the 100+ Reading Books Project, exhibitions by publishers and a showcase of books written by learners. A Literacy Resource Room will be launched, with literacy material, books, journals and software. A play especially written for International Literacy Week will be performed at the EMDC.
3.5 EMDC Breede River/Overberg: A celebratory event will be held at which approximately 8 schools (mainstream and Elsen) will do poetry and choral presentations. The new Resource Centre will be introduced. Winners of the writing Competition will be announced. EDULIS and publishers will exhibit books for schools during the day.
3.6 EMDC South Cape/Karoo: A hotline will operate for Literacy Week, offering schools advice on reading, learning problems, literacy programmes and resources. This will be publicised in local newspapers. Mayors of towns in the EMDC have been invited to visit schools to read to learners. Schools have been asked to invite departmental officials to read or tell stories at schools. Posters from several schools celebrating literacy will be displayed at the EMDC.
3.7 EMDC West Coast/Winelands: The EMDC and each circuit will initiate their own special effort for International Literacy Day. At the EMDC, Grade R learners from local schools will attend a puppet show highlighting literacy. Storytellers from the community will participate. The Deputy Mayor of Paarl will be guest of honour.

4. Further advice in this regard may be obtained from the following EMDC Literacy Co-ordinators: 
        Metropole Central:       Mr G Davids       021 659 4423
        Metropole East:          Ms K Mabandla     021 900 7014
        Metropole North:         Ms J Caroto       082 874 5478
        Metropole South:         Ms M Kwinana      021 372 2770
                                 Ms J Leukes       021 370 2044
                                 Ms C Nissen       021 782 6102
        Breede River/Overberg:   Ms M Siddle       023 348 4633
        Southern Cape/Karoo:     Ms C du Plessis   044 690 4007
        West Coast/Winelands:    Ms J Baatjes      021 860 1562
                                 Ms F Lawrence     021 860 1561

5. Heads of educational institutions, as the curriculum managers of their institutions, are earnestly requested to support this significant occasion.


SIGNED: P.A. VINJEVOLD
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2003:08:22

Annexure A: Suggestions for schools  (size: 18 KB)