MOST BASIC SCHOOLS IN SUNYANI HAVE NO LIBRARIES

From Michael Sarpong Mfum

Most basic schools in Sunyani Municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region do not have libraries though the education act mandates all basic schools to have libraries.

Schools visited, which do not have libraries, include; Stadium Primary and J.H.S., Nyamaa Primary and J.H.S., Ridge Experimental ‘B’ and ‘A’, St Anthony Padua Basic Schools and St.  Patrick’s RC Basic Schools.

The rest of the schools are Atronie Methodist Basic Schools, High Street J.H.S. ‘A’ and ‘B’, St. Anslem Anglican J.H.S., Police Experimental Primary and J.H.S., Boahenkorko Primary and J.H.S. and Atuahenekrom Primary and J.H.S.

Mrs. Grace Asiedu an English Teacher at Nyamaa J.H.S. said the absence of library in her school is becoming an obstacle in inculcating reading habits into her pupils.

She called on the Municipal Assembly to build at least one room to be used as the library in the school; I believe this will go a long way to help in inculcating reading habits among pupils.

The Brong Ahafo Regional Director of the Ghana Library Board, Frederick Noble Baada in an interview said the Municipal Education Office and the Municipal are guilty of not playing their role to ensure that basic schools have libraries.

“It is surprising that the Municipal Education Office and the Assembly who should know better by ensuring that all basic schools have libraries are not doing their work,” Mr. Baada disclosed.

He called on the Municipal Education Office and the Municipal Assembly to be up and doing to ensure that all schools in the municipality have libraries to help develop the reading habits among pupils.

Mr. Baada also disclosed that his outfit has put in place strategies to encourage young girls in the municipality to patronize the library, which is yielding positive results. He said boys are also encouraged to borrow books from the library.