01 Nov 2020

Parents and guardians of pupils at Semolale Primary School have been urged to inculcate the culture of reading among learners.

Officials spoke in unison during handing over of a library at Semolale primary. They said breeding a knowledgeable society would drive efforts towards a knowledge-based economy.

Speaking on behalf of the donor company, Dopotta (a game reserve in northern Tuli Block), reserve manager, Ms Emmah Ditiso, called on parents and guardians to take a keen interest in their children’s studies.

“Instead of asking them about the food menu of the day at school please, wet their appetite in reading and writing,” said Ms Ditiso.

She said reading helped with bolstering learners’ confidence especially against their counterparts from developed areas.

She asserted that a well-read pupil stood to gain confidence in conversations that would otherwise close them out. She also encouraged the spirit of competition amongst learners arguing that competition bred incredible results.

The Dopotta manager informed parents and guardians that reading was a beneficial relaxation act as opposed to playing and sleeping all day, a behaviour adopted by pupils, especially during school holidays.

She cited that pupils who read financial books stood a better chance of making informed financial decisions.

She also spoke against parents who made it a taboo to speak about sex to their children.

She suggested that those not equipped enough to address the sexual matters should buy books for the children and supervise their reading.

She posited that for parents to successfully propagate a reading culture, they should start reading so they could inspire the pupils.

Another speaker, Mr Dimpho Mashaba from Member of Parliament’s office added that planting of knowledge started at a tender age.  

He encouraged parents and guardians to accord pupils reading time and space, saying the products of such an exercise would come in the form of future investment.

He said the riches emanating from reading would eventually reach parents as the ripple effects spread.

“A reader grows mentally and is knowledgeable,” said Mr Mashaba who called on for moulding of a reading pupil that would rub the spirit on others as they grow in their studies.

An officer from National Library (Bobonong) Ms Betty Mazebedi said to be innovative, one needed information and to acquire information one needed to find it in the library staked with informative books and computers connected to the internet.

She said the libraries needed well-equipped officers, not necessarily librarians, who could devise programmes that would yield results.

Dopotta responded to government calls for organisations, businesses and individuals to adopt schools to help grind improved results. Before adopting the school in 2014, deputy school head Ms Tebogo Siamisang posited that the school struggled in their academic showing in the sub-district.

However, the school has since improved and even produced two students who made it to top ten performers nationally, thanks to Dopotta, who has ensured the school had proper furniture and books.

Before the just handed library, classes reserved some space at one corner of the class.  

The guidance and counselling teacher Ms Boammaaruri Bagwasi likened the library to a menu at a restaurant where learners would be spoilt for choice of books and activities that would aid their mental development. ENDS