Books by Tanzanian authors approved for use in schools

BY DEVOTA MWACHANG`A

3rd December 2012

The government has authorised three English literature books written by Tanzanian authors, to be included in the school curricula and used as learning books for secondary schools.

This was revealed to The Guardian recently in Dar es Salaam by Project Officer of Children’s Book Project for Tanzania (CBP), Luciana Mkandara during a discussion which involved students from Dar es Salaam based schools and Book writers.

Since 2008, CBP has approved three books for this purpose and these include, Treeland: the land of Laughter, In the Bell of Dar es Salaam and Face under the Sea. The three selected books were among nine published by the organisation.

“…following the approval, we will now supply the books to both primary and secondary schools across the country to be used students not only as learning books but also to encourage students in reading them like any other novels…” she explained.
Mkandara said the books have being written by authors who are residents and nationals of Tanzania. Although Swahili is the national language, children need to also learn other languages, particularly English which is used internationally.

She called upon other Tanzanian authors to write books that will attract the targeted audience and encourage a reading culture.
CBP is set to assist with the production and distribution of relevant reading materials and to encourage and support indigenous authorship and in this effort it has coordinated with the renown, Burt Award for African Literature competition.

The Burt award aims to support and motivate the development of supplementary reading materials for upper primary school students at a critical stage of learning in Tanzania for it is the transition period between mother tongue and English medium instruction.

The author of Treeland: the Land of Laughter, Mkama Mwijarubi, said his book has targets 15 year olds and older.

“…it is the story of a girl whose dream was to become a leader in a state that doesn’t approve of female leaders but due to her struggle and effort she realises her dream…this teaches other girls to never give up but work for their dreams despite the male chauvinist culture that surrounds and undermines their efforts…” expounded the author.

Tune Salim, author of Close Calls highlighted technological advances such as the internet, cell phones, fax machines, pagers, blogs etc that have now become the way of life and hence the theme of her book (Close calls) which focuses on the impact of modern communication amongst teenagers and young-adults.

Children's Book Project for Tanzania, was started in 1991 in response to Tanzania's acute shortage of books for children and the lack of adequate skills among Book Sector personnel to produce these reading materials, at the moment it is operational in only four regions of Dar, Morogoro, Coast region and Dodoma.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN