In pursuit of instilling a culture of reading and contribute to improving numeracy skills of primary school children across the country, Avbob launched its second year of the Avbob Road to Literary Trolley Library campaign in partnership with Oxford University Press.
The campaign will give away 260 trolley libraries equipped with books donated by Oxford University Press (OUP) Southern Africa, representing 11 official South African languages, 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,” said Mosweusweu.
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.
Hanri Pieterse, Managing Director of Oxford University Press Southern Africa, expands on the importance for children to read in their mother tongue. “A good reader needs a developed written vocabulary to read with meaning. This is why a child must learn how to read in their mother tongue. When they do, they develop this written vocabulary more easily as the words they read match the words they hear and speak”.
Oxford University Press Southern Africa is South Africa’s leading literacy publisher and has donated 130 000 books in all 11 official languages for this campaign.
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 this year 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.
Calls for nominations for this year’s campaign opened already and 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 in Grade R – 7. Visit: https://clickme1.zero-data.co.za/RTL_PR to nominate your chosen beneficiary.
All nominations must be sent in before 14 April.
