The Minister for Sports and Culture, Joseph Habineza, has called on urged school-going children to embrace the culture of reading so as to grow their cognitive abilities. The minister made the call on Monday during an event organised to celebrate the International Literacy Day at the Rwanda Library Services in Kacyiru, Kigali. The day, which was marked internationally under the theme: ‘Literacy for sustainable development,’ was locally celebrated under the theme: ‘Stand-up for Literacy.’ The international day for literacy was set by the United Nations in 1946 to raise awareness, and equip children across the world with analytical and cognitive skills. Augustin Gasake, a story teller and author of short stories, recited poems and child stories said that to inculcate a reading culture among children, it is important that parents and teachers read to them on a daily basis, giving an example of Western countries where parents make it a habit to read short stories to their children before bed time. He also said children should be provided with books that match their level of aptitude and age. Students that The New Times spoke to said some of the obstacles to a reading culture in Rwanda, include limited access to reading materials like novels, journals and news papers. They said even the available books are in foreign languages like English and French yet most students, especially those still in primary schools, would be more comfortable reading Kinyarwanda. Jenifer Turatsinze, the Director of Rwanda Library Services, said they are working with different partners to avail books and establish libraries at each and every cell in the country. She said there is also a strategy to promote Rwandan authors and story tellers. According to the fourth Population and Housing Census in Rwanda conducted in August 2012, 68 per cent of Rwandan population aged 15 years and above are literate, with males, more literate (72 per cent) than females (65 per cent).
