After delivery then what?

In one of its recent editions, The Nyasa Times featured an article entitled "Malawi Education System Falling Apart" by Ruby Suzgika. Having just come from a field trip visiting some primary schools, I was compelled to go through the article just to compare notes. And as I finished reading the article, I could not tell whether indeed the education system was falling apart or just experiencing some problems. I am yet to be educated. What I was able to appreciate very well is that the primary level of the education system in Malawi is hard hit by a shortage of teaching and learning materials. In its remarks on the issue, Government says the situation is set to improve very soon. However, I have my own concerns regarding these resources. How will the resources be managed after being delivered to the schools?

One of the materials, the Government intends to procure according to the article are library books. I was happy to hear about this but looking at the situation of our primary schools in terms of library facilities, several questions rushed through my mind. The first question that came to my mind was: "how will these library books be distributed?" I wondered whether the books would only go to those schools that have libraries or to all primary schools. I couldn't get answers to these and many other questions.

Most would appreciate that books cost so much. Malawi's financial limitations makes this to be felt more. As such, Malawi cannot afford to have such resources go down the drain. The resources have to be guarded jelousily.We have to ensure that the resources live through their life-span but most importantly, we have to ensure that our children and teachers can readily access the materials. This is why we have to aks all sorts of questions.

There have been cases where library books have ended up in Head Teachers Offices, inaccessible lockers or sealed up boxes or indeed anywhere else just for safe keeping. The primary beneficiaries have thus been denied access to the materials. It has to be pointed out that some school authorities are more inclined to keeping the library books safe than to providing ready access. Governmet has to ensure that this doesn't happen to the resources that are yet to be distributed.

We have a number of primary schools in Malawi that have well established libraries. The schools also have teacher-librarians who are trained to manage the library materials as well as making sure that the materials are being put to the best use possible. Examples include Likuni Girls, Guilleme Girls, Malavi and Thale. But these are very few - check with the National Library Service on the actual figures. Over 90% of the primary schools do not have something or a sytem worth calling a library; what will happen in these schools?

If there is no well laid plan yet, it is high time that the Ministry of Education thinks through this seriously. The goal behind provision of teaching and learning resources to the primary schools is that our children should get a good education. The resources are simply stepping stones towards achieving this. If after providing the resources, our children don't get access to the materials then the resources are a loss. The point is; let's ensure that resources provided to the schools are properly and professionally managed. Otherwise provision alone is not enough.

There are some district education authorities that have plans to train some teachers in their primary schools as teacher-librarians. This is a step in the right direction. Mangochi District is one such districts. The Ministry could urge all other educational authorities to do likewise. This would ensure that the library books are not a waste.

Finally, I would urge the Ministry to involve the Malawi National Library Service (MNLS) on the management of the library books and school libraries. MNLS has a vast experience in the management of various systems of school libraries. Such experience and collaboration would ensure that the library resources are properly managed and are put to the best use possible.