20 Nov 2017

One of the founders of library establishments in primary schools projects in Botswana, Ms Olga Tsimanyane says learners who utilise libraries perform better academically.

Ms Tsimanyane told BOPA on the sidelines of the on-going African Libraries Project (ALP) Summit attended by delegates from across the world at Kanye Education Centre recently that in Botswana, the mission started in 2003 after realising that primary school learners’ vocabulary needed enhancement.

She said through networking, they secured the Americans who by then knew through their research that indeed Africa needed help, therefore they sacrificed to help Botswana with books.

Through the project, Ms Tsimanyane said they were supplying books from America across the breadth and width of the country, citing Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Central and Chobe districts as some of the beneficiaries.

She shared that the primary school libraries were culture based as they taught learners culture. She further noted that the library was led by Parents Teachers Association (PTA) as culture was imparted to the young generation by community elders.

The ALP summit also had the opportunity to visit some of the primary schools’ libraries such as Phutisutlha in Lotlhakane East, Ketlogetswe, Rachele and Matlotlakgang in Kanye.

However, Phutisutlha school head, Mr Thatayaone Sefiwa said due to the availability of a library, the performance of his school has improved emphatically, pointing out that they intended to enhance it further.

He therefore, challenged learners to make use of the available opportunity to sharpen their reading skills and knowledge.

Mr Sefiwa implored the ALP summit to help them advance their library as they have realised the need to have such a facility in the school and the benefits that came with it.

Ketlogetswe school head, Mr Oscar Leatso said they were fortunate to had hosted the ALP summit and promised delegates a memorable moment on their return.

He shared that the school library liaised with the community in areas of culture for best practice.

While Rachele school head, Mr Tshupetso Thibelang was of the view that libraries were crucial in primary schools as it was a device that enhanced academic performance, vocabulary, prose and broadened learners’ scope.

He explained that during library lessons, learners had an opportunity to write a summary of what they had just read, while some practised the use of language and prose acquired from bone up.

A standard three student of Rachele Primary School, Pearl Tlhagwane said she enjoyed using the library as it energised her to soar academically.

She said teachers encouraged pupils to utilise the facility and attend to information that learners might probe after library lessons. ENDS