Alexandra: Gauteng Education MEC Barbara Creecy has unveiled a state-of-the-art school library at MC Weiller Primary School in Alexandra, which is expected to help learners improve their reading and literacy skills.

The library was donated by ad agency Net#work BBDO and its non-profit creative arm – the Make A Living Foundation.

Opening the library on Wednesday, Creecy noted that 814 primary schools in Gauteng had not yet achieved 60% in maths, languages, numeracy and literacy and out of 2100 schools in the province, only 1200 had libraries.

She said the province would soon begin to see an improvement in maths, literacy and numeracy with the help of the department’s plans, which include a massive teaching programme, workbooks and an aftercare programme which has been set up to provide learners with homework supervision.

“With this [library] we are going to see an enormous achievement in the childrens’ lives. We want to establish a very big love for children and creativity will start with children learning inside [the library].” Creecy said.

Net#work BBDO Director Mike Schalit said having a school library was a two-year project. “All kids should have a first class library,” he said, adding that everyone should use their creativity to get kids excited about reading.

Advocate George Bizos, who was part of the building of the library, said education was an important aspect of people’s national and private lives. “I hope that what you’ve started will come a way of life for people to be prepared to do something for the betterment of the people,” said Bizos.

School Principal Flake Ramothatha, who was thankful for the “job well done”, made a commitment that the school and parents would take care of the library so that the future generations would also benefit from it.

“This structure is not only for the children of MC Weiller but we are going to share it with the community and parents will assist us in looking after this wonderful thing,” said Ramothatha.