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School library in primary schools

Purpose of the project

To improve the scholar level of the children and to open their mind via reading library books.

Where

2 villages were we are active, with possibility of extension to the other villages.

Description of the project

We have provided the schools with over 2.500 schoolbooks in 2004. This will help the teachers and the children to have better working and learning conditions. However, children are not allowed to take the book home and there are still not enough books for every pupil.

Reading is not in the habits of the children for many reasons:

• No books available, or only a few school books
• No electricity and the petrol lamp is mainly used by the father due to the costs
• Parents cannot read, so no example given to the children.

Experience in other rural schools have shown that well equipped and run school libraries improve the percentage of pupils received at the final exam by at least 30%. Besides the better results, reading library books brings information to the children and adults which otherwise would not be available in the village.

We can purchase reading books from the foundation Biblionef. Those French books can be chosen to be adapted to the scholar level of the children. We estimate 700 books should be enough as a start up for a school library.

The books are shipped to Burkina Faso and prepared locally to be ready to be placed in the village school. In addition to the book, we provide the metallic cabinets, some chairs and tables.

The school library would be under the responsibility of one of the teacher. We would provide him with all necessary equipment and method in order to have safe and lasting running library. We would control that the books are not lost or stolen at least once a year. To have access to the books of the library, children and adults of the village would have to get a library card against a small fee (100 CFA = € 0,15).

Responsibility for the project

ASAP, one volunteer teacher from the school and parents association.