Libraries run by the kids?

Fewer than 7% of schools in South Africa have a functioning library. Perhaps 21% have some kind of structure called a reading room, but these are usually used for classrooms, are seldom stocked properly and do not have a library professional in charge to ensure that the right books are there and that they are used properly. (Equal Education)

Equal Education has come up with architectural designs for what a school library could look like. It has done detailed costing of buildings and materials to stock a library, and of the salaries of employees at each public school. The total cost of about 19808 school libraries is R7.9-billion.

Of course then you have running costs for librarians, constant update of books, electricity etc. etc.

Or we could just give every learner an electronic reader. Radical? Perhaps. A leap ahead of other countries in terms of entering the digital age? Without a doubt.

So how does it work? Step one, every learner is given an e-reader which forms part of his life long learning. The volume of this amount of e-readers will allow South Africa to obtain a very competitive price, and in fact would ideally create jobs by assembling locally a simple but robust platform.

Step two – agree with all providers of text books and study and research material that this content must be provided digitally and made available to locally based storage media. Storage media would be updated via internet or traditional media.

Step three – learners check in and check out books without adult intervention, are able to find materials and indeed maintain their own personal ‘library’.

Drawbacks? There are a few, each surmountable.

– Charging the e-readers in rural areas? Use solar powered rechargeable batteries.

– Content providers unwilling to relinquish their materials digitally?  Assure them via centrally controlled dissemination of materials that royalties would be payable as before.

– Political will? Pilot projects which prove the case and international backing.

In short, a leapfrog which would put South African education back on track and free resources for desperately needed trained teachers.