Just in time for the beginning of Equal Education’s 24hr Fast for School Libraries is scheduled to take place (6pm 29 July 2010 to 6pm 30 July 2010) the number of people fasting in solidarity are indicating a strong support for the School Libraries Campaign. With events scheduled for the opening and breaking of the fast in 4 locations across the country (Cape Town, Thohoyandou, Johannesburg and Bloemfontein) Equal Education is confident that public awareness is growing surrounding the issue of libraries and that the government will respond with a stronger commitment to education and more specifically libraries.
200 Learners at Oscar Mpeta High School
200 Learners at Westerford High School
350 Leaners at Salt River High School
Individuals such as:
Thabo Makgoba the Archbishop of Cape Town
Gcina Hlope
Vincent Motau (Department of Education)
Jonathan Jansen
Organisations such as:
COSATU Khayelitsha, TAC, Social Justice Coalition (SJC) IlRIG, Workers World Productions, Section 27 and Students for Law and Social Justice (SLSJ)
Equal Education has been campaigning for a policy on School Libraries for the past year under the banner of ‘1 School, 1 Library, 1 Librarian’. National Guidelines on School Libraries have been drafted, but these guidelines are not binding and do not come with provision for a budget allocation or an implementation plan to roll out school libraries. These developments are small progressive steps, but there are still clear gaps in policy which will continue to hinder the development of school libraries.
Any plan to improve access to school libraries must at least include funding and support from the DBE for: the establishment of school libraries; the training of and post-provisioning for librarians. Such a plan should also set clear target dates for its implementation. Lastly, any plan that is truly based on an understanding of the critical importance of school libraries should include the long term goal of having a functioning library in every school in the country.
Please contact the people listed below for more information:
CAPE TOWN:
Bring your own food and join EE to begin the fast at 18:00pm on Thurs 29 at New Site C Hall, Khayelitsha. Join EE to Break the Fast on Fri 30 July at 18:00pm outside the Cape Town International Convention Centre (Convention Square 1 Lower Long Street).
Interviews: Yoliswa at wande@equaleducation.org.za or call 021 387 0022
Logisitics: Ilan Strauss, 083 473 2080 / 021 387 0022,ilan@equaleducation.org.za
THOHOYANDOU (Limpopo):
Join EE to begin the Fast at the University of Venda, Senate Chamber on Thurs 29 July at 18:00pm and to Break the Fast with EE on Fri 30 July at 18:00pm.
Contact – Caroline Madzhie, 0722938201,Carolinendivhuwo.Madzhie@
JOHANNESBURG:
Join EE to Break the Fast on Fri 30 July at 18:00pm at Constitution Hill in the Conference Room (Old Fort Building and Entrance, Number 1 Kotze Street, Braamfontein).
Contact -Samuel Fenyane, 0781913703, fenyanesb@yahoo.com
BLOEMFONTEIN:
Breaking the fast with EE to be confirmed.
Contact – Moses Masitha, 084 273 3537, MosesMasitha@gmail.com
