Reading Day to be celebrated in schools, but libraries face neglect

Even as the government considers awarding grace marks to students for reading newspapers and books, libraries in State’s schools remain unutilised primarily owing to a lack of librarians.

In the new academic year, the General Education department is moving ahead with implementing the comprehensive quality education programme in schools that was initiated last year. It is also conducting a host of programmes in schools such as quiz and prose and poetry competitions in connection with the upcoming Reading Day and Reading Week.

Yet, concerns over students’ communication abilities, apart from knowledge acquisition, are unlikely to be fully addressed if effective steps to promote reading are not taken. For this, school libraries should not only be open but also engage with the learners.

‘Only in name’

However, more often than not school libraries function only in name, though each year schools purchase books through the Samagra Shiksha Kerala and also charge a nominal library fee from students. Students rarely have access to these books, for there is no mechanism to issue them to students.

Despite a High Court order, schools tend to post other subject teachers as librarians on temporary basis, with the government failing to appoint those who have completed Library Information Science courses as full-time librarians. A contempt of case filed by a staff organisation is continuing in court.

Further, there is no mechanism to determine how effective these are or how much the students are able to make use of them.

The M.A. Khader committee report on school education has mentioned the need for libraries and librarians. The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights too has observed the need for libraries and librarians in higher secondary schools.

Those waiting for years to get employment as librarians point out that their appointment will help promote students’ reading habit. They will also be able to guide them on research into various topics, particularly in the higher secondary wing.

Library science graduates say school libraries with ample books and periodicals and research materials – and helmed by qualified librarians – are without doubt a very effective way to promote reading and enhance quality of education.