Elvis Tah
16 March 2008
The National Book Development Council, a non-profit organisation, has donated a consignment of books to a newly created Catholic Secondary School in Bokwango, Bishop Jules Peeters Memorial Secondary School, Buea, on Wednesday, March 12.
The gesture, dubbed "Books on wheels", falls within NBDC's framework of empowering disadvantaged book sectors in the Southwest Province. It is also aimed at increasing literacy access to rural youths especially the girl child, by providing institutional support to rural libraries in remote areas in the Province.
Speaking during the handing over ceremony, the Chairman of NBDC, George Ngwane, said his organisation is out to promote a reading culture in Cameroonians. "The books we are giving out may not relate to your curriculum but you can pick them from time to time and read just to enjoy the beauty of language," Ngwane told the students.
Ngwane advised the Principal of the College, Sister Edith Itoe, to start up a little library with the books available, while hoping that it will grow up to be a full blown library in the future. He counselled the students that as pioneer students, they have to make the school proud by constantly reading their books to come out with good results.
Speaking to The Post on the content of the book, Ngwane said for a start, NBDC is giving out books of general reading and no necessarily books on the syllabus."We don't want to substitute the responsibility of parents buying books to their children. Our whole idea is to promote a book culture so what we are giving here is books of general reading," Ngwane said.
Ngwane said they plan to open up a resource centre, but moving to rural areas to distribute books remains their priority.
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