NIHERST Brings Literacy And Technology To Tableland Students
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) estimates that approximately 739 million young people and adults worldwide still lack basic reading and writing skills.
As the world observed International Literacy Day 2026 on September 8th, students at the Nipal Presbyterian Primary School in Tableland marked the occasion through a special literacy outreach programme hosted by the National Institute of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (NIHERST).
They read books, listened to stories, built 3-D models and interacted with a range of technological tools provided by NIHERST.
NIHERST President Dr Fazal Ali said the goal was to inspire students to develop a love for reading.
« Today is International Literacy Day, and we are here in a very remote rural school in a rural community to inspire the children in this school with STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics) education and to enable them to enjoy reading, to love books and to have great aspirations. »
In addition to robotics and 3D printing demonstrations, Dr Ali said volunteers also read stories to students, encouraging literacy through hands-on learning and engagement.
« We are here as NIHERST to read stories to the children in a rural community, and we have our technology activation unit with our robotics, our 3D printing, and we hope to inspire these children to go off to university to study artificial intelligence, robotics, and 3D printing and to master the skills of the future. »
Principal Anil Rampersad reflected on the school’s long history of service to the community.
« After 115 years this legacy continues, rooted in faith, strengthened by community and committed to the excellence of education. Presently we have 35 students. We have a fluctuating number. Some years we have a little more, some years a little less, but it is a village school, and we cater for the people in the village. »
The theme for International Literacy Day 2026 was ‘Literacy for People, the Planet and Prosperity’.
