Book Development Project to enhance reading culture

Ministry of Education Science and Technology director for secondary and open distance education Chikondano Mussa has challenged book authors in the country to write books that can attract the attention of students.

Speaking at the official launch of School Book Development Project in Lilongwe, Mussa said the country needs books that can enhance a reading culture among students which is currently not there.

“I should commend the Copyright Society of Malawi [Cosoma] and partners for coming up with this project because it will help Secondary school learners to have more knowledge on issues of national development,” she said.

Mussa further said most learners in secondary schools read just to pass examinations and not for general information because there are no books in our libraries; hence, commended the project saying it has the capability of filing in the gaps.

In her remarks, executive director of Cosoma Dora Makwinja Salamba said the project will enhance skills of authors in the country.

“We are looking forward to having locally authored and published materials and we believe this will have a positive impact to Secondary School Education in the country,” she said.

The five-year Book Development Project aims at encouraging local authors to write supplementary books for secondary schools to enhance a reading culture in the country. n