06 Dec 2021

A reading club project aimed at stimulating a reading culture amongst primary pupils in the Okavango area has been completed.

The Okavango Research Institute in collaboration with Matlapana Primary School, Thari E Ntsho organisation and Maun public library are behind the successful completion of the project.

For eleven months, some pupils from Matlapana Primary School with reading and writing abilities were selected to partake in the project.

During that period, pupils were engaged in a specialised in and out of school reading and writing activities to enhance their literacy skills.

The project team leader, Professor Toyin Kolawole said in an interview that the project was funded by the Community Development Society (CDS) from New York.

He explained that the Community Development Society was a network of practitioners and academics interested in furthering the wellbeing of communities through promotion of literacy among children and adults.

The project, he said, was expected to introduce indigenous reading literature to primary school pupils in the Delta; encourage reading culture amongst youngsters to enhance intellectual and socio-cultural development and to produce an anthology of learners’ stories.

Prof. Kolawole further stated that to celebrate the completion of the project, they had planned to award certificates to pupils who participated in the project and also distribute anthology of their work at Matlapana Primary School next Monday.

The reading club project, which commenced in March 2018 aimed to equip pupils with knowledge on the use of the library and to develop their reading and writing skills.

The pupils will also be able to review books, write short stories books and also acquire knowledge on socio-cultural issues in relation to environmental protection and civic duties.

The project will also help in advancing the government objective geared towards preserving and protecting the pristine Okavango Delta which UNESCO decorated as the 1000th World Heritage Site in 2012. ENDS