The Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has directed head teachers of public primary schools in the State to ensure that they have functional libraries in their schools.
The Head teachers are to post teachers from their existing staff to serve as Teachers/Librarians who would properly supervise the libraries.
Executive Chairman of the Ekiti SUBEB, Prof Femi Akinwumi who gave the directive in Ado-Ekiti during a sensitization meeting with head teachers in the State, said that the libraries should take off with the books and other reading resources provided for schools in the last few years by UBEC and the Board, adding that the appointed teachers/librarians should ensure that the available resources are properly arranged and utilized.
Explaining that the directive was aimed at improving reading culture amongst pupils of public primary schools, Prof. Akinwumi noted that regular reading exercises the brain, improves concentration and the ability to focus as well as enhance the general knowledge of pupils, stressing that the focus is to inspire pupils to master the art of reading and understanding early in life.
Akinwumi said that library/reading periods should be observed at least twice a week while the head teachers must encourage programmes that would promote reading activities such as reading competitions, establishment of young readers club as well as observation of book and literacy days.
He stressed that the initiative was to promote the reading culture in order to achieve the desired goals.
Earlier in his welcome address the SUBEB Director of Quality Assurance , Mr. Mathew Owolabi explained that the awareness programme was a follow up to the National Assessment of Learning in Basic Education (NALABE) exercise conducted in schools in the state by the Universal Basic Education Commission in the last quarter of 2022 .
He assured that his department in collaboration with the Archival and Documentation unit would include the monitoring of libraries and other newly introduced activities in its proposed monitoring of schools scheduled to commence soon.
Also speaking, the Head of the SUBEB Archives and Documentation, Mr Biodun Adeoye urged participants at the forum to ensure strict compliance with the resolutions of meeting in their various schools.
