F. State Education Dept launches Library Campaign

Nothing beats a good book and the Free State Education Department is opening windows for its pupils. R21 million Reading and Library Campaign has been launched at Thaba Nchu.

Forty three schools in the province, mainly rural will be recipients of the first phase of the project. It’s aimed at enhancing learning and teaching.

“Reading gives us an opportunity to be good thinkers. This is an opportunity that our parents did not have,” said pupil at Tawana Primary School, Wame Motlhakwana.

The campaign has been welcomed.

“Libraries are important because they have material that learners don’t have in class. So, I would encourage to utilize their libraries for information,” said Librarian Palesa Pula.

Authorities say the cash injection will also be used to train library staff.

“We are targeting schools in Motheo District mainly rural schools because our research had shown that the situation is dire in Mangaung and Garip in terms of shortage of libraries. But the project will spread to other province’s regions before the end of the year,” said Free State Education MEC Tate Makgoe.

The programme will ultimately benefit 30 thousand pupils in the province and instill a greater reading culture.