Literacy has different connotations for different people and just knowing to read and write does not mean literacy, though that constitutes the literal meaning of ‘literacy’, opined speakers at the International Literacy Day celebrations on the Delhi Public School premises in Vijayawada on Friday.

The role of newspapers in improving the literacy rate and widening the knowledge sphere was discussed and the need for improving reading habits highlighted.

The Andhra Loyola College Head of Department of Library Science G.A. Prasada Rao described various forms of information platforms and described journals and periodicals as essential for improving vocabulary on a daily basis. School dean S.B. Rao said literacy was confined to statistics and those numbers did not mean anything until real education was imparted. Reading good books can make a person truly literate and improve one’s social behaviour.

School English Department Head Shanthi Ramanujam, Vice-Principal P.K. Sankaralingam, and director of the school were present in the interactive session with students of Classes X to XII on the school campus at Nidamanuru.

The winners in essay writing competition were 1st prize – Shashank Rao Palety (Class 12); 2nd prize – Hamsini (Class 9); 3rd prize – Nikitha (Class 9); drawing competition 1st prize – V. Mamitha (Class 7), 2nd prize – K. Madhu Charan (Class 7), 3rd prize – Sai Anurag (Class 8).

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by Special Correspondent / September 08th, 2012