ufundo LweNcwadi
Kringe in ’n bos
DALENE MATTHEE
1 school 1 library 1 librarian campaign for “Education is an area that needs the attention of all our people, students, parents, teachers, workers and all other organised sectors of our community.” – Nelson Mandela’s Address to Rally in Soweto, 13 February 1990
“Everyone has the right a. to a basic education, including adult basic education; and b. to further education, which the state, through reasonable measures, must make progressively available and accessible.” Section 29 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa
Why do we need school libraries? In the PIRLS 2006 report which tested primary school learners’ reading skills in 40 nations, South Africa’s learners achieved the lowest scores. In the SACMEQ II study involving 14 sub-Saharan African countries, 49.9% of South African grade 6 learners could not understand the meaning of basic written information. Overall, South Africa ranked ninth behind countries including Mozambique, Tanzania and Swaziland.
Because South African children cannot read! Western Cape Education Department (WCED) Research Ex-Dept schools
Grade 6 (2003)
Grade 6 (2005)
Grade 6 (2007)
Former “African”
3.7%
4.7%
WCED has so far re-
Former “Coloured”
26.6%
35.5
fused to release dis-
Former “White”
82.9%
86.9%
aggregated figures
Overall
35%
42.1%
44.8%
And School Libraries improve reading. It’s proven! Student performance increases by between 10% and 25% when a stocked, staffed and fully-funded library is in operation within a school. (Lance: 2000) The mean pass rate for schools without a library [in South Africa] is 47%, compared with 66% for those with a library (Bhorat and Oosthuizen: 2008). All other things being equal, the highest achieving students [were those who] attend schools with good libraries’. (Baughman: 2000). “Those who live in rural areas know that the dream of a better education remains elusive in many areas, as resources are still skewed infavour of urban areas. Some urban schools in historically black areas also still lack facilities, there are no qualified teachers in many, and come December people wonder why matric results do not improve. – President Jacob Zuma, Graduation Ceremony of the University of Zululand, 20 May 2009
Only 7% of public schools in South Africa have functional libraries. (DoE’s 2007 NEIMS Report.) •
Since 1997 the DoE has produced 6 drafts of a national school libraries policy. None have been adopted as official policy, and the DoE closed its School Libraries Unit in 2002.
•
The main reason why there are no school librarians is because there are no librarians. The reason there are no librarians is because the DoE offers no specialists full-time school librarian posts.
We can’t afford NOT to have libraries! If you think books are expensive, try ignorance! If you think libraries are expensive, try illiteracy!
Billions of Rands
R 14.00
R 13.16 bn R 10.28 bn
R 12.00
Training for library administrators
R 10.00 R 8.00
Books and materials
R 6.00
Library infrastructure
R 4.00
Stadiums
R 2.00 R 0.00
10 World Cup Stadiums
20 000 School Libraries
The state has invested approximately R13.61 billion in the ten stadiums for 2010 World Cup. 20,000 School Libraries could be built, stocked and staffed, for a lot less than this. If the above costs are spread over ten years, and salaries for library administrators are included, the total cost would be only 1,5% of the current annual Department of Education budget. (Full costings available from Equal Education.)
“Education shall be free,
R 2.22 bn School libraries: cost per year for first 10 years including slaries R137.57 bn
Total DOE 2009 budget
compulsory, universal and equal for all children; Higher education and technical training shall be opened to all by means of state allowances and scholarships awarded on the basis of merit.” The Freedom Charter adopted in 1955
What is Minister Motshekga saying? YES! In November 2008 the DoE published draft ‘National Minimum Uniform Norms and Standards for School Infrastructure’ which says all school must have a library or media centre. NO! On 30 November 2009 a DoE spokesperson said school libraries are “unattainable, given the historical neglect.” Confusing? You can help make sure the Minister says YES to school libraries.
What can I do to be part of the campaign? •
Join the Human Rights Concert and March for School Libraries on the 21st March 2010 at Thibault Square in Cape Town – contact our offices if you can help organise or donate.
•
Collect signatures for petitions – contact our offices.
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Donate books at the EE BOOKERY – Old Charly’s Bakery in Roeland Street, Cape Town. For book donations contact Rich on 076 593 9310
We demand a National Policy on School Libraries which provides for the following: •
A library for every school.
•
Human resources: A trained librarian or library administrator, working full time.
•
Books and Equipment: Expand QIDS-UP library project nationally to provide shelving, computers and 3 books per learner.
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Operational Funding: Legislate for 10% of Learning Teaching Support Materials (LTSM) funds to be dedicated for libraries.
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Teachers, parents, learners and SGB members to be work-shopped on the value of school libraries.
www.equaleducation.org.za Email: zingi@equaleducation.org.za
campaign for
Phone: 021 387 0022/3 Equal Education Board: Prof Crain Soudien, Zackie Achmat (Acting Chairperson), Nathan Geffen, Doron Isaacs, Prof Paula Ensor Campaign for School Libraries Advisory Committee: Prof. Genevieve Hart (UWC); Prof. Paula Ensor (UCT); Peter Henshall; Prof. Mary Nassimbeni (UCT); Nkosinathi Mahala (Khayelitsha Librarian); Khosi Mabandla (WCED); Rose Damon (WCED); Graeme Bloch; Prof Mary Metcalfe and Vuyiseka Dubula Patrons of the Campaign: Dr Mamphela Ramphele, Archbishop Thabo Makoba, Lebo Mashile, Sindiwe Magona, Gcina Mhlophe, Nadine Gordimer, Graeme Bloch, Prof. Mary Metcalfe, Dean Rowan Smith, Vuyiseka Dubula