Books Botswana donates 60,000 books
Staff Writer | Tuesday February 22, 2022 06:00
Botswana Book Project (BBP) recently donated 60,000 books to Kgatleng Region. A total of 48 schools in the Kgatleng Region benefitted from the donation. The donation, which was hosted by the Ministry of Basic Education in Mochudi, was attended by school heads from the different schools around the Kgatleng District.
The school heads from the different schools could not conceal their excitement. Kgatleng District Council chairperson Daniel Molokwe who approached BBP to solicit the donation applauded the project, indicating that it will go a long way in cultivating a reading culture amongst students.
He added that inculcating a reading culture amongst the youth could also improve the performance of learners and make their learning process enjoyable. BBP director of operations Ezekiel Malenya explained that they are committed to assisting schools, and pleaded with teachers to actually put the books to use and not just leave them to gather dust in a corner.
He told school heads who had gathered to collect their donations that he once visited a school he had previously donated books to, only to find the boxes still sealed, gathering dust in a corner. He told school heads that they are in the process of finalising a project, where they will host training for schools. “Schools will select one teacher to be trained so that schools, which don’t have libraries or resource centres, will be able to go and set up. They will be taught how coding is done for them to understand how libraries are set up and run in schools,” he said.
He informed the school heads that they are also working on another project, which will be streamed down to schools once the talks with the ministry are finalised. Explaining the impending project, he said once finalised schools will receive gadget(s) called Rachel Plus, which is designed for use in schools, resource centres or places of learning. He explained that the gadget once installed allows learners within a 50m radius to access 50,000 books. “We are working very closely with the ministry so that we can put the curriculum material into this gadget so that it becomes easy for teachers and students to access the books,” Malenya said.
When givin a word of appreciation, Radikolo Junior Secondary School headteacher, Tselana Temeki applauded council chairperson Molokwe for tirelessly going around to seek donations for schools. “It is not the first time for you to solicit donations for us. You have shown a passion to assist schools, and I would like to say may you continue to serve in that regard, because when you assist a child through those donations, you are educating the nation,” she said She thanked BBP for the donation. “You have put a lot of joy in our hearts prioritising Kgatleng schools,” she said.
She further said the donation will go a long way as students are going to use the books for research, making a commitment to the donors that they are going to ensure that students utilise the books. She expressed excitement about the Rachel Plus project. “I believe if it comes to our region, we can lead and others will follow,” she said.