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School Libraries Are Not Sufficiently Valued in Vietnam

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School Libraries Are Not Sufficiently Valued in Vietnam World Change Starts with Educated Children.® Room to Read and Efforts to Build Habit of Reading in Vietnam TK Forum 2011 READ Neighbours: Sharing Reading Promotion Experience Bangkok – May 11th, 2011 World Change Starts with Educated Children.® Presentation Overview • Introduction of RtR • Barriers to establishing a reading culture in Vietnam • Room to Read’s current efforts to address these barriers • Moving forward – Next Steps World Change Starts with Educated Children.® Introduction About Room to Read World Change Starts RtR’s History with Educated Children.® • Room to Read was founded in 2000 to help provide much needed books to a single rural community. Today, we are a global organization - working in 10 countries across Asia and Africa - that helps millions of children in the world gain access to education through a variety of programs. Since 2000, Room to Read has. Established over 11,000 libraries . Built 1,442 schools . Published over 550 original hildre’s titles . Supported over 10,000 girls Nepal 2000 Sri Lanka 2005 Vietnam 2001 South Africa 2006 Cambodia 2002 Zambia 2007 4 India 2003 Bangladesh 2008 Laos 2005 Tanzania 2011 World Change Starts Our Theory of Change with Educated Children.® IF ROOM TO READ’S PROGRAMS work i ollaoratio THEN THERE WHICH ULTIMATELY with local communities, partner organizations, and WILL BE: RESULTS IN MORE: government towards ensuring that: MoreMore Primary school children will become Empowered, independent readers EducatedEducated Empowered, Active and ChildrenChildren Active and Responsible inin the the Responsible Citizens WorldWorld Citizens Girls will complete secondary school and have the skills necessary to negotiate key life decisions World Change Starts School Room with Educated Children.® Goal: Provide children access to safe, dedicated learning spaces to help them achieve their educational potential Objectives: Irease studets’ aess to dediated learig spaes Irease studets’ usage of dediated learig spaes Increase community participation in construction and long- term maintenance of schools World Change Starts Reading Room Program with Educated Children.® Goal To promote literacy and the habit of reading in children Objectives To irease shool ad/or ouity eers’ aess to ad usage of library resources. To improve school administration, librarian, and/or teacher capacity to ensure the libraries are well-run. World Change Starts with Educated Children.® Local Language Publishing Goal: To promote literacy and the habit of reading in children Objectives: Publish a variety of culturally relevant materials in local languages Build capacity for local authors and illustrators To promote literacy Distribute our books to Reading Rooms (RtR libraries) and the habit of reading in children World Change Starts Types of LLP Publications with Educated Children.® Flipbooks Wordless picture books Early Readers Big Books Flip books Storybooks Story Cards Fact/Nonfiction Books World Change Starts Literacy Pilots with Educated Children.® Goal: To promote literacy acquisition skills in primary school students Objectives: To develop materials needed for literacy skills acquisition To train and support teachers in literacy skills instruction To train and support families to nurture literacy skills acquisition at home 10 World Change Starts with Educated Children.® RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PROGRAMS Independent reader = Reading habit + Reading skills Reading Room Prog. Reading habit (Local Language Publishing) Literacy Pilot Prog. Reading skills (Local Language Publishing) World Change Starts Program Evolution with Educated Children.® Initial Years (1998 to 2001) • English books donated • Libraries Established • Schools Constructed Next 5 Years (2003 to 2008) • Local Language Publishing Primary school •Librarian and Teacher children become Professional Development independent • Expansion into establishing readers classroom libraries Since 2009 • Building an Independent Reading •Support to language learning World Change Starts with Educated Children.® Building Reading Habit - Case from Vietnam World Change Starts with Educated Children.® Barriers to establishing a reading habit in Vietnam? World Change Starts with Educated Children.® Barrier #1 – Primary Education System: General • There is no common message between educators and the government authority to value libraries as “the heart of the school and community.” • Existing curriculum gives no time for free reading activities, and relies heavily on textbooks instead. • Educators lack knowledge of children’s literature and how to select appropriate books for children to read. • No budget and few options available when selecting books for school library • High student/teacher ratio in classrooms Half-day schooling • Result: School libraries are not sufficiently valued in Vietnam. World Change Starts with Educated Children.® Barrier #1 – Primary Education System: School Libraries There are many school libraries in Vietnam’s Education System: Regions Total # Total # of school % of schools of libraries/book with school corners libraries/book s corners North 14,272 12,927 90.6% Middle 3,272 2,839 86.8% South 9,997 8,980 89.9% TOTAL 27,541 24,746 89.9% However, the quality and use of these school libraries is questionable. World Change Starts with Educated Children.® Barrier #1 – Primary Education System: School Libraries – cont. Current school libraries lack: • Clear definition of purpose, roles and functions • Quality materials and infrastructure, including space and furniture • Trained librarians – initial training and ongoing support: • Library work often falls to teachers who have teaching responsibilities and who lack necessary education and training • Library activities • Network and resource sharing • Ability to promote reading to children, teachers and parents. Result: School libraries are not fully functional in Vietnam. World Change Starts with Educated Children.® World Change Starts with Educated Children.® World Change Starts with Educated Children.® Barrier #2 – Lack of Quality Children’s Books & Materials • Very few authors and illustrators writing for children • Available books and materials are usually translated • Focus is on illustrations and not words/text • Lack of research on children’s reading needs and interests • Book leveling – no cooperation between educators and publishers • Large access disparity between urban and rural areas Result: Poor quality and low quantity of children’s books in Vietnam. World Change Starts with Educated Children.® Barrier #3 – Lack of Family & Community Involvement • Illiterate parents • No habit of parents regularly reading stories with children at home: – Reading is not a priority – time and space are not available in home or community • Low income makes it difficult to purchase books • Lack of knowledge on how and where to access books • Other habits have greater priority - watching television, reading news and playing games online • Currently no national day for reading promotion in the community Result: Reading is not a priority in the home or the community. World Change Starts with Educated Children.® Room to Read’s efforts to address these barriers World Change Starts with Educated Children.® Room to Read – Supporting School Libraries • Since 2003, Room to Read (RtR) has launched 467 libraries in Vietnam primary schools; an additional 100 will be established in 2011. • RtR supports these libraries over a three-year period, including teacher and librarian training and ongoing professional development. • Local community needs inform the type of library selected for a given school, whether it is a mobile, separate, constructed or classroom library model. World Change Starts with Educated Children.® Reading Room Types Mobile cart World Change Starts with Educated Children.® Constructed Reading Room World Change Starts with Educated Children.® Classroom Library Corners World Change Starts with Educated Children.® Room to Read – Supporting School Libraries – cont. • Books and Materials: – Local language publishing program that creates quality children’s books and materials to fill gaps in the current market. – Sourcing existing quality children’s books for all libraries that are developmentally and culturally appropriate. – Between 3-5 books provided per student. – Books are classified by reading level. • Library Infrastructure: – Special attention is given to library furniture, layout and design so that each library is inviting and accessible by all children. World Change Starts with Educated Children.® Room to Read – Supporting School Libraries – cont. • Teacher and Librarian Training: – Designed by professional librarians internationally and reviewed and adapted by Vietnamese teachers and librarians to reflect Vietnam context and needs. – Utilizes Train-the-Trainer model in partnership with BoET, DoET and local community partners. – Targets school librarians, teachers and headmasters. – Includes how to initially set-up library, manage the library and deliver engaging literacy activities for students. – Works with schools on developing long-term sustainability strategies for the library beyond RtR’s 3- year support cycle. World Change Starts with Educated Children.® Room to Read – Supporting Vietnam’s Education System • Working in partnership with BoET and DoET, RtR has: – Provided training and professional development activities for headmasters, teachers and librarians – Advocated for a designated reading period in all schools – Increased family and community awareness and involvement – Provided ongoing
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