HSBC sponsors NWAR family literacy programme

The HSBC Group made €25,000 available through the HSBC Malta Foundation to fund the NWAR basic literacy skills tuition programme, which is run by the Foundation for Educational Services at the Ministry of Education.

“The HSBC Group is active in supporting literacy worldwide. The funding of the NWAR programme in Malta is part of the support the HSBC Malta Foundation gives to children and families most at risk of social exclusion brought about primarily by lack of education,” said Alan Richards, HSBC Bank Malta Chief Executive Officer.

Parliamentary assistant Stephen Spiteri said that overcoming the obstacle of illiteracy was one of the government’s missions and the NWAR programme could adequately address the issue.

“During this phase of education, the participation of parents is crucial in a child’s development. This was emphasised in the National Curriculum Framework document currently under consultation,” Spiteri said on receiving sponsorship.

Over 25 children in primary and secondary schools and their carers can benefit from the programme in 2011, according to HSBC.

The NWAR programme is a family literacy programme for students in classes from Year 3 to Form II and their carers. Students participate in an intensive literacy support programme with a maximum ratio of three children to one tutor.

“Through NWAR, referred students who, for years failed to learn how to read and write, gained literacy skills in a relatively short time span,” HSBC said.

HSBC also said that rapid learning achievements of students in the NWAR programme could be attributed to the involvement of carers supporting the child's learning and growth within the home and to the effective methodologies and approach used by the NWAR tutors.