School libraries key to children’s learning

 One of the biggest primary school in NCD and located in North East Electorate has no library. 

Since its establishment 20 years ago, the school never had a library, a shocking revelation of the Education Department failure to build one. 

Evedahana Prime School is located in the National Capital District and yet it has functioned without a library. 

This is a case that needs serious attention from the Education Department. 

Many schools throughout the country have time again raised this issue because the library is imperative to learning. 

We must not pretend that we have done away with the conventional libraries and have moved on to electronic library where students and teachers are prevalently accessing online libraries. 

The masses need the library for effective learning. In Evedahana’s case, most children live in squatter settlements and do not have the luxury of appropriate technological gadgets like Android phones  to go online or via desktops and laptops to do their assignments and research. 

Besides that the data cost remains marginally expensive and slow. 

In summary, electronic library is something the masses can’t afford at this stage. That is the very reason why all schools need good libraries if this country is serious in developing its human resources. 

While other educational infrastructures are equally vital, the office of the National Librarian needs to improve its coordination and ensure that building libraries and equipping them is a critical national priority for the Government. 

For Evedahana’s case it would be proper if the school can sell the school bus donated by Moresby Northest MP Labi Amaui and raise funds to build its library.  

The MP who is highly regarded for his no nonsense service delivery can also look at how he can assist all educational institutions in his electorate to have a library. 

As you read, teachers are still giving assignments that require children to use a library. Regrettably, they don’t have one and it frustrates their learning. Most give up schooling because of this very reason as it defeats them. 

And with most schools still adopting OBE curriculum, teachers are still expecting students to do more research to assist their own learning. 

It simply fails the children and discourage them from taking up school seriously. The rural schools are even worse. 

Being proactive to address this issue constructively, which is a better approach then procrastinating – a trend that is threatening our intellectual security.

Concerned Parent

NCD