National Library to promote newspapers in education

Vientiane Times

National Library to promote newspapers in education

The National Library will provide newspapers to primary schools nationwide in an effort to broaden students' range of learning resources.

Pupils will have better access to information about their own society and what is going on around the world through reading the papers, the Director General of the National Library, Ms Kongdeuan Nettavong, told the Vientiane Times yesterday.

To help students understand more about news in Laos and overseas, newspaper providers will be careful to supervise students and give them suitable suggestions on what they could benefit from and what they should avoid reading, Ms Kongdeuan said.

“We are planning to introduce newspapers into primary schools around the country because they can benefit schoolchildren by helping to develop their writing, spelling and reading skills.”

Each library must have at least one newspaper alongside its collection of books, she added.

“Since we began the national reading promotion for children and young people in 1990, we have been on a study trip to Hawaii to find out about education there, and we have introduced newspapers in some primary schools in Laos already.”

She said many developed countries have introduced newspapers into education in this way to develop students' reading skills and promote their understanding of the country's political policies.

“Books can teach general theories but a newspaper is a good textbook which follows the latest events around the country and the world. It is full of varied information on politics, society, the economy, entertainment, science and lifestyle,” Ms Kongdeuan said.

“If youngsters don't care about what is taking place in their country and worldwide, they certainly won't understand the politics of their own country.”

“We must therefore promote newspapers in education to develop young people's vision and knowledge so they can become able adults in the future.”

Ms Kongdeuan said the first task would be to train teachers and librarians on the best ways to use newspapers to ensure they select appropriate information for schoolchildren.

“With the right guidance, students can become even keener on reading newspapers than they are on reading books,” she said.

But the scheme faces many obstacles such as lack of funding and slow transportation in bringing newspapers to the provinces.

“To resolve these issues, we have urged government officials and private organisations to keep their old newspapers and donate them to schools. Additionally, newspaper publishers should improve their distribution methods.”

“Even if they're not getting the latest news, students will still benefit,” she said.

She added that the National Library plans numerous activities to promote newspaper reading in primary schools nationwide.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update March 18, 2010)