Non-formal learners, mostly herders, demonstrated various traditional games that reflected the life of herders in the cattle posts.

The games were performed at the celebration to mark the International Literacy Day held at the Institute of Extra Mural Studies (IEMS) grounds in Maseru on Wednesday.

Officially opening the competitions, the Deputy Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Training, Mr. Motsoakapa Makara said education is a basis of life, hence the need for everyone to know how to read and write.

He said the theme for this year's celebration thus: 'Literacy Key To Good Health and Wellbeing' indicates clearly that it is difficult for people to lead a healthy life without education, hence why the Lesotho Distance Teaching Centre (LDTC) in collaboration with Non Formal Education stakeholders have engaged in an education for all campaign.

He appealed to people who are literate to help illiterate members of their local communities, saying that in a bid to ensure that every Mosotho child knows how to read and write, the government is in process of enacting a law through, which every child will be forced to go to school.

Speaking at the same occasion, the Executive Director of the Lesotho Non-Formal Education, Mrs. Elizabeth Dabengwa urged the public to encourage people who are still lagging behind in terms of education to emulate the example set by non-formal learners so that they could attain bright future.

She appealed to the Ministry to assist non-formal education centres with resources that will help in the education process of no-formal learners and to provide educational trainings and incentives to non-formal education instructors for motivation.

The event brought together non-formal education learners from around the country.

Literacy Day is celebrated annually world wide with the purpose of conscientising nations of the world on the importance of knowing how to read and write.

Source: LENA 12/09/2007