Buk bilong Pikinini is again this year is planning a number of highly anticipated events to celebrate PNG Literacy Week from the 4-8th of September 2017.
With Literacy Week, Buk bilong Pikinini seeks to highlight the importance of education and for children to have access to books and literacy materials from an early age, due to the fact that about 85 percent of brain development happens in the first five year of a child’s life. Reading in these critical years significantly influences a child’s lifelong capacity to learn.
“Libraries continue to play a major role in fostering literacy, especially among those needing assistance in developing literacy skills (e.g. preschool and elementary school children),” says BbP in a statement.
“Through BbP’s 17 libraries, hundreds of 5-6 year old children are enrolled for morning literacy classes and school children are welcome to attend an after-school literacy support program. In addition to this, BbP donates more than 50,000 high quality books to schools every year across PNG, so they can re-stock their school library shelves.
“BbP believes that literacy is more important than it ever was, in this world of text and email, and of written information.
“There is a need to ensure that all children get the opportunity to learn to read and write, so they can become global citizens who can read comfortably, comprehend what they are reading, understand nuance and make themselves understood.
“International studies have shown that simply having books in the home has a significant impact on children's educational outcomes, but not all families can afford to buy them. That's where libraries are an incredibly valuable resource. Not only are there books to borrow in BbP’s libraries, there are also free literacy sessions.
“BbP’s libraries are staffed by professional teacher-librarians, who not only teach a PNG specific early childhood literacy program but who are also there to help parents choose the best books for their children and show them how to share stories and have fun reading as a family.
“BbP also has a publishing program to ensure PNG stories are present and also sells books at its book shop at Theodist.”
BbP further said their aim is to persuade the PNG government to invest in early childhood literacy programs and public libraries in order to give every Papua New Guinean child a better opportunity to be schoolready and have access to books and information throughout their education and life.
This year’s Literacy Week theme will be “Reading: It makes a world of difference” and 5-year-old children enrolled for literacy classes at BbP’s libraries will be learning about other countries, their cultures and how you can access the world through reading.
The week will feature a number of events in BbP libraries with donors and special guests such as the SP Hunters, who have again this year helped BbP to produce a TV advertisement about the importance of reading.
A “Meet the Author” event with Iriani Wanma, award winning Author of “Oa the grasshopper and Kaipa the caterpillar” will be held on the 6th of September at BbP’s book shop at Theodist.
A joint declaration by the Director General of the National Library of PNG, Mr. Kaikato Kasi, and Buk bilong Pikinini will be celebrated on the 7th of September at BbP’s Six-Mile community library.
The declaration will include information about the importance of public libraries and the two organisations’ intention to partner.
BbP has extended its gratitude to ExxonMobil PNG for its support.