GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - To instill a culture of reading and contribute to improving numeracy skills of primary school children across the country, Avbob has just launched year two of the Avbob Road to Literacy Trolley Library campaign in partnership with Oxford University Press.
Oxford University Press Southern Africa is South Africa's leading literacy publisher and has donated 130 000 books for this campaign.
The campaign will give away 260 trolley libraries equipped with books. The books, representing 11 official South African languages, include numeracy books and other learning resources, to deserving primary schools and education NPOs.
Kebo Mosweusweu, Avbob General Manager of Shared Value and Sustainability, indicated that included in 2023 campaign is the availability of reading resources in mother tongue languages.
"Experts through various studies have found that teaching in a mother tongue language helps to reduce dropout rates and makes education more accessible and engaging for learners. Equally important, is the need to develop the numeracy skills at the formative ages of children.
Through this year's campaign, we aim to further reinforce our commitment to instilling a love of reading to primary school learners, nationally," Mosweusweu said.
The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) latest findings show that 78% of Grade 4 learners in South Africa could not read with meaning in any language, because they are not taught basic literacy in the language that they speak at home. This means that only 22% of the country's 10-year-olds understand what they have read.
In 2022, 180 trolley libraries were given to the winning recipients and this year that number has increased by 80 to 260 trolley libraries. The trolley libraries are sturdy structures, fitted with wheels, used to store the books which are being manufactured by Avbob Industries in Bloemfontein.
Last year, each trolley library was equipped with 430 books whereas in 2023, each trolley will be delivered with 500 books. Each Avbob Road to Literacy trolley library has a value of R50 000.
The total investment value for 2023 competition is R13-million, which is an increase from R10-million in 2022.
How to nominate a school?
Calls for nominations for this year's campaign have opened on 1 March at 09:00.
The public are encouraged to take part in this initiative by submitting electronic nominations, as to why their choice of school or educational NPO deserves to win a trolley library equipped with books.
To nominate a school or an educational NPO, the nominator must include the desired language for the library so that the winners can receive books in their preferred language. Nominators can nominate deserving primary schools or educational NPOs who serve learners from Grade R to 7.
Visit here to nominate your chosen beneficiary.
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