Start learning from library helps children read fast

Education

Children who start learning in a library learn how to read much faster when they start school, a school principal says.
Principal of Tatana Island Primary Daure Gaudi said students who came from the Buk bilong Pikinini’s (BbP) Library Learning Centre (LLC) on Tatana Island in Port Moresby took less than a year to read confidently.
Gaudi said those children that graduated from the Buk bilong Pikinini’s programme were advanced with their reading and writing compared to others enrolled directly into elementary.
He said the children enrolled from home took 2 to 3 years to read confidently unlike those from who come from learning centres.
“We are so proud of their results and thankful for the support,” Gaudi said. “The teacher-librarians have prepared the children well.
“It would be great if we could boost the LLC’s capacity to enrol more children from the community.”
The BbP’s library learning centre on the island was opened on Sept 13, 2013.
It was built by the Swiss Embassy on the land provided by the Tatana Araira Church and the running costs were covered by managing director of City Pharmacy Limited Mahesh Patel.
Around 600 five to six-year-old children have been benefitting from its early childhood literacy programme.
The programme prepares them for school by providing a solid base in literacy, numeracy, discipline and general awareness.