RIC-NET joined the rest of the members of Uganda community Libraries Association in celebrating the Book Week from the 15th to 20th
October. The event took place at Busongora Rural community library
located in Kasese District. This library serves both the farmers in the
community as well as the students and other community members.
The
main objectives was to create understanding on the value of reading to
the pupils and students in Kasese, to create a linkage between the
tradition teaching method with the modern, To derive a picture of the
type of library required by the users- community, pupils and students.
The participating schools included; Kasese Secondary, Kasese High,
Kasese Moslem, Light of Hope Secondary[between S1-S3], Kasese Primary,
Base camp Primary, Mother care and Rock primary[pupils between P.3-P6]
other were RICNET, RWECO and BRIC staffs, DIO, DEO, Secretary for
education and sports Kasese district local government represented by
Mr.Tsembere Venesio the area district councilor.
The
activities included; Story telling by the elders to students and
pupils. Art and drawing competition, Debate, Book reading and Quiz
competitions among the participating schools involving the secondary and
the primary learners.
During
the silent reading and later sharing of the books, the pupils the
participant realized that reading is important because; there is an
increase in knowledge and awareness, pupils learn good behaviors,
increase their ability to speak and write, has increased their ability
to speak in public and their views heard, increase their literacy rate,
get meaningful advice from certain books, able to understand program
from the government and their rights as children of Uganda.
They
also realized community issues that need actions from the community and
their leaders are easily shared and understand especially; better
farming methods, community literacy programs, family planning methods
should be implemented to reduce on population explosion. Laws,
ordninaces and by-laws should be put in place to regulate on drug abuse,
children rights should be respected. One pupils from Mother Care
Preparatory School Degaulle in P.4 amused the house when he mentioned that “the government is to blame for reduce the cost of Alcohol especially those that cost as less 500; Buveera”. He was supported by another Komukebya Sharon from Base camp Primary
who said that these drugs are easily accessible everywhere in the
villages. These views were later accepted and the District councilor
accepted to table them in the council
The
event also draw participants to an understand between formal and
informal education. In informal education, the teachers were mainly
uncles, Anti and grandparents where knowledge was passed in form of
proverbs, stories, sayings, songs that were meant to increase behavior
change,sence of belonging to the community, hard work and good character
among the young ones as well as increasing the sense of belonging to
the community. The fire place was the class room.
In the formal
education, teacher and schools have replaced the role of elders to pass
knowledge. The story telling that formed part of this event draw the
pupils the life back with the grandparents. Mr. Kyaminyawande Augustine
an elder from the community helped the pupils to understand that
informal education had value and those values should be taken even
today.
