Teacher helps learners by opening a library | News24

19 Oct 2023

Babalwa Ndlanya

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A teacher from Lower Malepe-Lepe Primary School in Tsolo, Iviwe Mathe, appeals to people who can assist his school by donating literacy books to do so.

Besides being the teacher, Mathe is a well-known author and isiXhosa activist whose focus is to help pupils to have more knowledge.

He also assisted some of his learners to publish a poetry book.

Mathe said that he will put those collections in the school library from his school that he started last year.

He said that when he arrived at the school, he noticed that there was no library where learners could gain knowledge and enjoy reading freely.

Mathe said,

Even though the Department of Education is always telling us that learners must read, there is no place where they can do that freely without being forced by teachers. I then asked permission from my school principal to use a class that was not in good condition where we used to keep damaged books to change it to library.

He confirmed that he then started a small library and took his collection of 50 books that he used to keep, since he loved reading isiXhosa.

Mathe said that he placed them in this library so that it should function.

According to him, he then engaged learners and showed them how to read and take care of the books, and how to read for understanding and enjoyment.

Mathe said,

I also had learners who were managing it because by doing that I was teaching them how to be managers. This year our principal came up with an idea that it should be renovated. I then added more books. Another problem that our learners are facing is that they are given projects to do the research in libraries, but those who are living in the rural areas are always having problems because there are no libraries in their areas.

According to him, he wants this library to also be used by learners from other schools, so that they can stop struggling when they want to do research.

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