BAND PLAYS; MARCHERS CARRY POSTERS; WOMEN DANCING; CROWDS IN STADIUM (NATURAL SOUND THROUGHOUT).




Initials PW/V/CT/JG



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Background: IN KENYA YESTERDAY, EDUCATION AUTHORITIES AND PRIVATE BODIES BEGAN A CAMPAIGN FOR ADULT LITERACY, AIDED BY EXPERTS FROM UNESCO. UNDER THE PROGRAMME, THOUSANDS OF KENYANS WHO ARE UNABLE TO READ AND WRITE PROPERLY WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND LECTURES AND CLASSES IN THE BASICS OF LITERACY.

THE BOYS OF THE STAREHE BOYS BAND PLAYED THROUGH THE STREETS OF NAIROBI TO HERALD THE 8TH INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY WHICH FELL YESTERDAY. THEY WERE FOLLOWED BY A LARGE CROWD CARRYING BANNERS ANNOUNCING LITERACY DAY.

AMONG THE MARCHERS WERE MEN AND WOMEN FROM MANY ORGANISATIONS IN THE COUNTRY. THEY MARCHED TO KAMAJUNJI STADIUM ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF NAIROBI, WHERE MR RONALD NGALA, KENYAN MINISTER OF COOPERATIVES AND SOCIAL SERVICES SPOKE ON THE SUBJECT OF ADULT LITERACY.

TWO EXPERTS IN ADULT EDUCATION FROM UNESCO HAVE BEEN IN KENYA SINCE 1965. THEY FOUNDED A LITERACY CENTRE IN NAIROBI, FOR THE USE OF BOTH KENYANS AND AFRICANS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES.

WORKING WITH THE KENYAN EDUCATION AUTHORITIES, THE UNESCO TEAM DEVISED A PROGRAMME OF ADULT EDUCATION AND REPORTED ON HOW THE PROJECT COULD BE WORKED AND FINANCED.

NOW, ON KENYA'S FIRST LITERACY DAY, THE PROGRAMME HAS BEEN LAUNCHED.