As October is International School Library Month the Western Cape Education Department is holding a poetry-and-poster competition to celebrate with the support of its Education Library and Information Services (Edulis).
Learners can win R30 000 for their school to spend on library resources.
The theme this year is “#BackOnTrack with School Libraries”, which will explore the ways in which school libraries and the availability of library resources can help learners to get #BackOnTrack after the pandemic. David Maynier, Western Cape Minister of Education, said reading and writing are crucial skills that must be mastered if learners are to succeed in their school careers and beyond, and having access to library resources at schools can make a real difference in improving learning outcomes.
There are two categories in this year’s competition: a poetry competition for Grades 4 to 12, and a poster/drawing competition for Grades 1 to 3 and special schools. All entries will need to answer these guiding questions:. How do school libraries help learners to get #BackOnTrack after the Covid-19 pandemic? . If there is no school library, how would having one help learners get #BackOnTrack? . How would winning school library resources help your school?
A detailed minute will be sent to all schools on how to enter. The total prize money this year is R300 000; for the poetry competition three secondary schools will receive R30 000 each for winning entries in English, Afrikaans and IsiXhosa, and three primary will receive R30 000 each for winning entries in English, Afrikaans and IsiXhosa.
For the poster/drawing competition three primary schools (Gr 1 to 3) will receive R30 000 each for winning entries in English, Afrikaans and IsiXhosa, and one special school will receive R30 000 for a winning entry. Entries close on Wednesday 13 December 2023. “So we urge all learners to chat to their school about how to enter today.”
