week in a school mobile library
18 March 2007
The 2001 and 2004 Systemic Evaluation Reports found that grade three and
grade six learners in KwaZulu-Natal obtained some of their lowest scores in
literacy. Their parents, grandparents and caregivers are unlikely to contribute
meaningfully to developing their literacy through homework support because
close to 2 million adults in the province have little or no education
themselves.
Reading habits are developed over a period of time and the Education
Library, Information and Technology Services (ELITS) has produced reading
policy guidelines to assist schools in this endeavour. Not only will this
improve literacy levels but general knowledge, vocabulary and a lifelong
enjoyment of reading will be enhanced. This has also been endorsed by the
Masifundisane adult mass literacy campaign - a joint project by the Office of
the Premier and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education.
KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC Ina Cronje, herself an avid reader, believes
that to read well one has to practise. "Children don't read for enjoyment
because they cannot read well enough and fast enough to enjoy reading. When one
struggles to read it is not possible to escape in a world of make believe.
Reading is the most basic skill that one needs before you can do any subject.
Even a nuclear scientist must be able to read."
To celebrate national library week, which kicks of on 19 March, MEC Cronje
will arrive in a mobile library bus at Mandosi Primary School, in Umzinyathi
Road, Emanyaseni area, Durban. She will entertain the children with a story and
hand out library material.
Date: 19 March 2007
Time: 11h00
Venue: Mandose Primary School
For further information, please contact:
Christi Naude
Acting manager: Media and Citizen Liaison
KZN Education
Cell: 083 262 8829
Issued by: Department of Education, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial
Government
18 March 2007
