Bernice Larryoboh
The Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has tasked administrators of public primary school across the state to renew and sustain the age-long reading culture typical of the state educational system in the past.
The Executive Chairman of Ekiti SUBEB, Prof Femi Akinwumi, gave this directive in Ado-Ekiti during a sensitization meeting with head teachers in the State.
Akinwumi who stated that sustaining a reading culture in schools is dependent on the establishment of libraries, ordered that libraries should take off with the books and other reading resources provided for schools in the last few years by UBEC, the Board.
Speaking further, he directed Head teachers to post teachers from their existing staff to serve as Teachers/Librarians who would properly supervise the libraries.
He equally stressed that the directive was aimed at improving reading culture amongst pupils of public primary schools; Prof. Akinwumi highlighted that regular reading exercises the brain, improves concentration and the ability to focus as well as enhance the general knowledge of pupils.
Proffering how to implement the directive, 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.
On his part, SUBEB Director of Quality Assurance, Mr. Mathew Owolabi in his welcome address, 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 also 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.