Marape presents K60,000 for Northern libraries

 SCHOOLS in Northern are expected to utilise libraries to improve their reading and writing skills of their students, Finance Minister and Acting Education Minister James Marape said in Popondetta last Friday.  

While in the province to commission two district treasury offices, Marape released K60,000 for library support programmes in primary and high schools in Popondetta town as well as in Sohe and Ijivitari districts.

Each district will get K20,000 to build school libraries and equip them.

Marape said the national government realised that libraries played a vital role in education, particularly in developing reading skills and broaden understanding. 

He said with the national government’s target of prioritising education it had looked at areas such as funding educational projects and initiatives such as library support services.

“Schools must encourage the use of libraries where our children can read and learn more,” Marape said.

He said it was hoped the libraries would in time be equipped with computers and internet services so that “our children and communities are well informed of issues”. 

“We must do what we can to guide the little children now so they will not resort to crimes or other bad habits.

“Library services for every school are vital and the government wants to ensure that this is applied right across the country,” he said.