The Place of School Library Services in Promoting Reading Culture at Basic Education Level in Nigeria
Ibrahim, M. M. Furfuri
Inuwa Abdul-Kadir Library, Sokoto State University, Sokoto
Muhammad Shafaatu Anka
School of Secondary Education Languages, English Department, Federal College of Education (Technical) Gusau, Zamfara State
Abstract
This paper examined the central role of school library in basic education programme in Nigeria. Basic education has been a universal concern aimed at providing access to education to every citizen globally. The paper discussed major objectives of Universal Basic Education Programme in Nigeria and provide insights on how School Library services can support resource-based learning as well as inculcation of good reading culture. Some hints on how to develop reading culture among children were highlighted. These hints include storytelling hour, readers club, and reading models. However, the paper noted inhibiting factors for the effective promotion of reading culture at basic education schools in Nigeria. These factors center on lack of compressive policy for implementation of the programme, scarcity of trained librarians and inadequate funding. Therefore, in order to reposition the school libraries for enhanced performance, the paper made recommendations that include sensitization campaign on community involvement in managing libraries of UBE schools and direct participation of the local community in developing and sustaining the school library programmes. Public and Colleges of Education libraries should also play key roles in training and retraining of the school librarians (teacher-librarian), especially on practical aspect of managing the libraries.
Keywords
Basic Education, School Library, Reading Culture
Reference
Aduwa, O. & Sam, E. O. (2006). Assessment of the provision of Educational Services under the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Scheme in Southern Nigeria. Education, 127 (2): 176-186.
Aina, L. O. (2004). Library and Information Science Text for Africa. Third World Information Service Ltd.
Akinfenwa, K. (2019). Addressing declining reading culture in Nigeria. Unpublished paper, Lagos State Ministry of Information & Strategy. Alausa, Ikeja.
Anunobi, C. (2022, February, 5). Poor Reading Culture Responsible for Examination Malpractices in Nigeria-National Librarian. Premium Times https://www.premiumtimes.com
Bello, N. (2004). The Place of school libraries in the universal basic education (UBE) programme in Nigeria. African Journal of Library, Archives and information science, 14 (2): 139-150
Benson, O. V.; Okorafor, K. Nongo, E. & Anyalebechi, L. I. (2017). An assessment of the Nigerian school library in contemporary era. In Compendium of papers presented at the 1st International Conference and Home Coming of the Department of Library and Information Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Theme: Global Best Practices in Library and Information Services in Contemporary Era, (1)115 – 129. Held from 25th – 30th June, 2017.
Dike, V. W. (2017). Library Resources in Education (2nd ed).ABIC Books
Federal Republic of Nigeria (2004). National Policy on Education: Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council.
Furfuri, I. M. M & Anka, S. M. (2016). Adoption and Use of Strategies for Promoting Reading Culture among Junior Secondary School Students in Gusau Metropolis, Zamfara State, Nigeria. Journal of Humanities and Education. 1 (1): June, 1-29. Published by Faculty of Humanities and Education, Federal University Gusau.
IFLA (2021). IFLA School Library Manifesto. https://www/ifla.org/doi (…)
Jibir-Daura, R. (2014). Teaching Reading: Language teaching series. ABU Press.
Monica, E. E. & Chinwendu, A. C. (2017). Entrenching global best practices in collection evaluation for Nigerian school libraries. Global Review of Library & Information Science, 13: 71–80.
Ogbonna, J. & Eze, J. U. (2015). Reviving the Reading culture: School library programmes in promoting voluntary reading amongst students: the case of Imo State, Nigeria. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). 1241. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/1241
Thliza, M. J. J. (2005). Assessment of the implementation of the universal basic education in Askira/UBA Local Government Area of Borno State. The pacesetter: Journal of Oyo State College of Education. 12 (1): 13-20
Tahir, G. (2003). Basic Education in Nigeria. Stirling-Horden publishers (Nig.) Ltd.
UBEC (2004). UBE: A flagship of the Federal Government of Nigeria. Universal Basic Education Commission.
Unagha, A. O. (2008). Implementing Universal Basic Education (UBE) through the strategic provision of school library services. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-Journal). 161. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/161