Minister of Education, Andrew Holness (centre), has the attention of Rachel Chin and Romario Whyte Gleaner, Youth Honour Awardees, as he reads to them from The Spelling Bee book. They were at the re-opening of Sangster's bookstore in Mall Plaza on Tuesday.

Education Minister Andrew Holness has reinforced the Ministry of Education's commitment to literacy. He was speaking at the re-opening of an expanded Sangster's Book Store in the Mall Plaza in St. Andrew on Tuesday.

Mr. Holness said there was a challenge to get parents as committed to their children achieving literacy and numeracy in grade four, as they were to their doing well in GSAT examinations in grade six.

Currently, the Grade Four Reading test is graded by the individual institutions, he explained, but he hopes this will change next year. "We want it to be a nationally-administered test," said Mr. Holness.

"It will not be a test you can study for," he added, explaining it would more realistically reflect children's abilities.

Children's corner

The renovated and expanded Sangster's branch now boasts a spacious children's corner where children aged 3-18 can read and participate in the store's book club. The children's corner is furnished with two computers equipped with GSAT material on which students can practise papers as well as get hands-on experience free of charge.

A café, equipped with wireless Internet service, caters more to adults on the go with their laptops.

The business centre allows for photocopying and document binding in one location. Flat screen television sets are available to educate from every angle.

Sangster's updated point-of-sale section now allows workers to do a complete search of the store's database, making it easier to find items in their stores islandwide.

And to top it off , "we still sell books and stationary," declared Rudolph Speid, group financial controller.

"This reopening represents a vote of confidence in the economy, a vote of confidence in our customers," said Garfield Grandison, The Gleaner's Editor-in-chief, who chaired the official opening function. He reiterated The Gleaner's commitment to help build a literate society which has a healthy appetite for books.

The Gleaner 2007 youth awardees, Romario Whyte, Rachel Chin, Rohan Hall and Spelling Bee Champion Regina Bish were presented with special gifts from Sangster's. The vote of thanks was moved by Yolande Fullwood, the store's marketing manager.

The Gleaner's Children's Own Spelling Bee Champion Regina Bish is enthralled by this book at the re-opening of the Sangster's Book Store in the Mall Plaza on Tuesday. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer