Schools to get e-Libraries

Isaro Foundation, a local NGO, will establish electronic or digital libraries in secondary schools countrywide in a bid to improve reading and writing skills among students, according to the organisation.Jean Leon Iragena, the foundation’s CEO, told The New Times yesterday that his organisation has been shipping books from the US, but this had proved costly because of transportation charges, hence resorting to electronic material.Isaro is a non profit organisation that aims to improve reading and writing skills in schools in the country. It was founded last year in October and is supported by Millsaps College a US based institution and Rwanda Diaspora Global Network (RDGN).“We have so far shipped about 4000 middle and high school students’ books such as novels, short story books, among others. We distributed all of them to nine schools in the country, but this is not enough; we are continuing with the exercise,” he said.“We get most of the books for free or at a lower price from our partners in the US but shipping them is quite expensive, that is why we are going to establish e-libraries.”A digital library is a facility in which collections are stored in digital format and accessible on computers. The content may be stored locally, or accessed remotely via computer networks.Iragena stated that the libraries will be equipped with Galaxy Tablet computers which enhance means of accessing information and will be a repository of the books.He said the project to set up the digital libraries will kick start in July.The first e-library will be established in Bigogwe High School, Nyabihu district in a pilot phase after which, the project will expand to other schools depending on the success of the pilot phase.The organisation has also formed reading and writing clubs in some of the schools in the country as a means to do away with the absence of a culture of reading and writing.In March, the Oklahoma Christian University chapter of Isaro Foundation organised a successful book drive to bring reading materials to Rwanda.According to Longin Ntirenganya, the Director of Studies at Groupe Scolaire Kanyinya, his school has received a sizeable number of books from Isaro Foundation.“Our students are using the books. The books have enhanced their knowledge in writing and reading skills, the reading culture is very critical in the quality of education,” he said.Ntirenganya added that the books were few compared to the number of students, adding that the school is in need of more reading materials.

National

Schools to get e-Libraries