In pursuit of instilling a culture of reading and to contribute to improving numeracy skills of primary school children countrywide, Avbob launched the second year of the Avbob Road to Literary Trolley Library campaign in partnership with Oxford University Press on Wednesday 1 March.
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, said the availability of reading resources in mother tongue languages are included in 2023 campaign. “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,” she explained.
“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.”
The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study’s latest findings show 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 they speak at home. This means only 22% of the country’s 10-year-olds understand what they read.
Hanri Pieterse, managing director of OUP Southern Africa, expanded 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.”
Last year, 180 trolley libraries were given to the winning recipients and this year (2023) that number has increased by 80 to 260 trolley libraries. The trolley libraries are sturdy structures are fitted with wheels and 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 is valued at R50 000. The total investment value for this year’s competition is R13 million, which is an increase from R10 million last year.
How to nominate a school?
Calls for nominations for this year’s campaign opened on 1 March. The public is encouraged to participate 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 to Grade 7. Visit https://clickme1.zero-data.co.za/RTL_PR to nominate your chosen beneficiary.
The handover of the trolley libraries to the winners will be facilitated by Avbob local offices in partnership with OUP and representatives from the winning schools or NPOs.
Traditionally information literacy has been the domain of the school librarian. Only 16,82 % of South African schools have a stocked library. With so few school libraries and no official position in schools for a school librarian, the onus for fostering literacy rests on teachers.
Campaign timelines
- 1 March to 14 April: Competition launch and call for nominations. All nominations must be sent through the dedicated website.
- 1 March to 28 April: Assessment of nominations as and when they are received. Avbob and OUP will decide the winners.
- 8 June: Official announcement of winners.
- 12 June to 31 August: Delivery of trolley libraries to winners.
