By Buziwe Nocuze
The National Library has restored the library at Oscar Mpetha High School in Nyanga, Cape Town, much to the delight of the learners.
Teacher Vuyiseka Masekwana said the library was working well when she arrived in 2016, but it fell apart because no one managed it, so learners took books and didn’t return them.
She spoke of the importance of having someone to take care of the library to prevent similar problems in the future.
The new library will help learners with their assignments and research and should improve their grades.
“Having a library will make a huge change. Our students, especially those without smartphones, can now do their work here instead of stressing about going to an internet café,” Masekwana said.
Phakama Matoti, a project manager for the Children’s Literacy Programme, revived the school library after the school’s initial attempts to get help were unsuccessful. The programme is housed at the Centre for the Book, part of the National Library.
Matoti secured donations of cupboards, computer tables, and five computers. Libraries in Gugulethu and Nyanga donated books for the library, which serves over 1,000 learners.
“A library is important not only for students doing research but it will also encourage them to read, and they will become better people,” Matoti said. The Children’s Literacy Programme encourages reading through book clubs in schools and communities.
The learners are grateful, saying they will no longer have to ask their parents for money to buy data.
“We couldn’t even do our assignments properly because of expensive data. Now we don’t have an excuse but to pass with flying colours,” one learner said.
Pictured above: Oscar Mpetha High School students are grateful to the National Library for reviving their school library.
Source: Buziwe Nocuze
