there’s something even more important quietly waiting for our attention. If we ignore it, we risk missing the real chance to transform our beautiful country for generations to come. That something is literacy. Yes, simple, basic literacy. Every child, in every village, in every region of Guyana must be able to read, understand, and express themselves clearly. Without this, our dreams of building a successful technology-driven future, powered by artificial intelligence, will slip out of reach. I see this every day through our programmes at STEMGuyana. We’ve invested in advanced AI-powered platforms, and they are incredible tools. But here’s the truth, when a child struggles to read or understand instructions, even the smartest AI won’t be able to help them, unless we first recognise literacy as the barrier and build solutions that address it directly. If a child doesn’t understand the question, they certainly won’t understand the answer, no matter how sophisticated the technology. Sadly, this is the reality for too many of our children. National assessment reports show that about 50 per cent of students on the coast and in the hinterland fail to meet basic reading benchmarks by grade two and the problem continues in grades four and even grade six. These statistics represent our future doctors, engineers, nurses, farmers, and entrepreneurs. If we do not equip them with foundation skills like literacy and numeracy, their chances of finishing school, earning a decent income, and participating in Guyana’s technology future will be severely limited. (Kaieteur News)