PEN Club In B/A SHS

PEN International, a non-governmental organization (NGO) has inaugurated Pen Youth Club (PYC) in six Senior High Schools (SHSs) in, the capital of the Brong Ahafo Region at a ceremony at the Notre Dame SHS, with the objective to improve the horizon and proficiency of members in both written and spoken English

The organization, which  has over 145 centers in almost 105 countries, with membership opened to all published writers, aims at finding ways of getting the youth involved in writing.

It also aims at promoting intellectual cooperation and understanding among writers regardless of their political and different views.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Executive Director of PEN International, Frank Mackay Anim-Appiah, explained that, the organization is composed of prolific writers worldwide, bringing together poets, editors, novelists, essayists, critics, historians, translators, journalists and screen writers.

He indicated that, the organization acts as a powerful voice in opposing political censorship and speaking for writers and journalists who are harassed, imprisoned and sometimes murdered just for expressing their views.

Mr. Anim-Appiah diclosed that, PEN Ghana was the first writing center to be formed in 1998 which has been an example emulated by many centers in Africa, Europe and South America, adding that, in Ghana, the first three youth clubs were established at the WA SHS,  Navrongo SHS, and Zuarungu SHS.

He expressed the hope that, by the end of the current academic year, the population of PYC countrywide would be over 50 while by 2016 the set target of the NGO, is to open as many as 100 clubs out of the over 486 SHSs in the country.

Dr. Frankie Asare-Donkoh, President of PEN International added that, no country develops with illiteracy and stressed the need for Ghana to give serious consideration to eradicate illiteracy in order to pave the way for effective development.

He appealed to government to ensure a sustainable system for the SHS instead of the try and error approaches to the duration of the SHS.

Dr.Asare-Donkoh emphasizes that, the organization is to help nurture the youth and encourage them to muster the English language in view of the wide range of its benefits in any profession they would find themselves in the future.

He also advised the youth to get access to the internet to improve their academic studies so that they can become good future leaders to the benefit of society.

 Nana Prempeh Agyemang, the District Director of Education for Sunyani West, who chaired the function, said the club will help enlighten the level of spoken English of the students.

 

        

From Vivianna Mensah, Sunyani