In a concerted effort to meet standards set by the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation, the Department of Library Services intends to increase library book allocations for each primary school.
Director Library Service Ms Sokoveti Tuimoala said the UNESCO standard stipulates that library book allocations for each school would equal a child receiving 13 books each.
The department furnishes library books to schools under the Primary Schools Library Scheme that received a $200,000 allocation in the 2011 National Budget.
Under this scheme, Government, through the Library Services of Fiji assists primary schools by providing library books both fiction and non-fiction, furniture, book boxes, book shelves, training for librarians and setting up of libraries.
One hundred schools were assisted this year.
“This scheme will improve students reading and learning habits,” Ms Tuimoala said.
“We want to meet the UNESCO standard which is 13 books per student. At the moment we provide two to three books per student but we are looking at expanding this.
“The cost of books is high, so we are thinking of assisting lesser schools so that we can meet the UNESCO standard.”
Ms Tuimoala said they do the monitoring through school visits.
“We speak to the students, language teachers and head teachers,” she said.
“A lot of independent learning takes place and library plays a lot of importance in the area of research.
“We also do auditing for accountability where we see how they are using the books and they have to pay for lost books.”
Producing more knowledgeable children works towards the overall aim of pillar nine of the People’s Charter ‘Making Fiji a Knowledge-Based Society.’
At the moment 43 schools have requested for books, furniture, shelves, training for their librarians and assistance to set up their school libraries.
Next year Library Services of Fiji will establish a teachers/school resource center in all public libraries.
“The centre will have books of teachers’ choice for reference purposes,” Ms Tuimoala said.
“Where there are no public libraries the resource center will be set up in school libraries. We are also thinking of asking the town councils for space to set up centers.
“There are also plans to reactivate the Mobile Library so we can go to rural areas.
“One of the biggest challenges Library Services of Fiji face is training of librarians because when they are transferred, the next person who comes in has no knowledge on libraries, is not active and this actually kills all effort.”
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