Primary school revision books launched

GASEBALWE SERETSE
Staff Writer | Friday July 20, 2007 00:00

The books, which have been described as user-friendly, cover subjects like English, Setswana, Mathematics, Agriculture, Religious and Moral Education, Social Studies and Science are meant to help primary school pupils prepare for their exams.

Speaking at the launch, Joseph Tsonope, the Director of the UB Foundation, lauded Botsalano Press for introducing revision books to ready learners for their primary school leaving exams, 'When the new syllabus was introduced, the current Standard Seven learners were in Standard Five on the old syllabus. As this year's Standard Seven examinations were set from the syllabus, it was necessary for learners to be prepared to cope with the new syllabus,' Tsonope said.

Educationist, most of them with more than 10 years' teaching experience, wrote the revision books. They include Philip Maduku (Agriculture Made Easy), Norman Rhudumbu (Dipalo Made Easy), Aggrey Chiumia (English Made Easy), Karabo Baitshoki, (Religious and Moral Education Made Easy), Simonds Bamfo (Science Made Easy), Shadrack Moseki and Thudi Seretse, Fenya Tlhatlhobo, Connie Makandla (Social Studies Made Easy) and Benjamin Thebe (Social Studies Made Easy II).

Tsonope commended the authors and the publishers for their efforts to promote the culture of reading in Botswana and reminded his listeners about the negative impact the electronic media were having on the country's literacy levels.

'We cannot run away from the fact that culture changes with time, but the challenge for us is to strive to preserve what is best, ' he said.

According to the Series Editor Simonds Bamfo, varied questioning techniques have been employed in the series.

Marketing manager Podi Mooki described the books as easy to read, colourful, light to carry and a 'must-have' for all the children in upper primary.

'These books are so reader-friendly that a child can use them even without the assistance of the teacher or parent,' Mooki explained.

He encouraged schools and parents to buy a complete set of the series for their children in upper primary to make exams easier for them.