LOCAL non-government organisations which work in education are planning to collaborate to help the country meet the target of 100 per cent literacy by 2015, a target of the United Nations Millenium Development Goals (MDGs).

“I think that one common cause that all NGOs could come together on is the plan to make literacy 100 per cent by 2015. That is around the corner and if we don’t intensify our efforts (it might not happen),” said Jason Henzell, president of Breds, Tresaure Beach Foundation and of Island Outpost.

Henzell, whose foundation is pumping over $10 million into the Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth community this year, was speaking at this week’s Observer Monday Exchange where more than a dozen charitable organisation were represented.

The groups included Sandals Foundation, JNBS Foundation, Scotiabank Foundation, Digicel Foundation and the USAID which give millions to education each year.

“Since education is coming out as a common theme, if we can pull together and every NGO comes behind the government we can try and make this a reality.

“A lot of (the focus) is about the physical infrastructure but, the capacity of the teacher needs urgent, urgent attention,” said Henzell.

He added that the observance of Jamaica’s 50th anniversary as an independent country next year could be used as the fillip for the drive especially where Jamaicans in the diaspora are concerned.

“With Jamaica turning 50 next year people in the Diaspora are asking ‘how do we help our country’? so if that can be the common theme let us get literacy,” he said.

Jamaica’s youth literacy rate among males is curently at 92 per cent, while that for girls stands at 98 per cent.

His proposal was met with approval, with the groups pointing out that many of them were already involved in litercay projects.

“All the foundations have been involved in literacy, some of us have been driving it for years already. With the drive that we all have, we need to all come as in one unit,” said manging director of JNBS Foundation Saffrey Brown.

“As one foundation we’re already in 50 schools and we’ve done that in two years,” added Lisa Lewis, head of the Digicel Foundation.

Meanwhile, the Sandals Foundation which was founded in 2009 and operates in five countries and six islands throughout the Caribbean, has adopted 26 schools throughout the region with the aim being to not only improving infrastructure but teachers training and technology.

“We are always looking at ways at giving back because we don’t sell hotel we sell a destination and if we don’t invest in the people and the environment we have nothing to sell,” said Heidi Clarke, director of programmes at the Sandals Foundation.

Head of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Dr Karen Hilliard, who was also present Monday, said her organisation and other agencies have also been behind literacy initiatives here.

Dr Hilliard commended the government for establishing the national education thrust and said USAID was helping to have it legally established so it can attract that multiple donors.

The MDGs are a set of eight development goals whith specific targets to to reduce extreme poverty and hunger, improve health and education, empowering women and ensuring environmental sustainability by 2015.