Africa-Press – Botswana. There is more than just fun to reading, and young people would do well to take up the habit.
Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, minister Mr Tumiso Rakgare said this during the World Book and Copyright Day held here recently. He said reading would not only help them to gain a renewed respect for the irreplaceable contribution by writers whose work promoted social cohesion and progress of humanity, but would also sharpen their minds.
Minister Rakgare said reading expanded knowledge, adding most successful people had embraced the culture of reading at all times in order to keep abreast with global trends in business and other aspects of life.
“Our brains need to be stimulated to function properly, to cultivate imagination and foster ideas. This is achieved through reading and science agrees that one of the easiest ways is through reading with concentration,” he said.
Regarding the theme “Promoting indigenous languages through reading and writing” minister Rakgare said it brought promotion and use of local and indigenous languages into focus, as it demonstrated a sense of pride and cultural heritage that was stored in use of one’s mother tongue.
The theme, he said came at the right time when the government had decided to introduce the teaching and instruction of learners in their mother tongue in some schools in the country.
Minister Rakgare said the introduction of mother tongue in some schools was to appreciate the cultural and social role that books and reading played in shaping lives and the perceptions.
“Our thoughts are deeply engraved in our language and our cultures and as such, the more we promote our indigenous languages, the more we create a future and a pathway for language posterity for the future generation,” he added.
He challenged writers and authors to do more and promote reading and writing in vernacular, adding that cultures, traditions and values of a people could only be mirrored in the wealth of their literary heritage.
He said information about a nation’s history and beliefs was stored in its books. He therefore urged people to not despise a native language writer.
Minister Rakgare said while the day promoted literacy and enjoyment of reading, it also emphasised the importance of copyright protection and the role it played in supporting authors and publishers. He said it helped to ensure that creative literary works were protected and that authors and writers were adequately compensated for their work.
He urged individuals, students, readers, and researchers to know and understand the laws governing the use of literary works to avoid committing crimes such as plagiarism. The minister emphasised that the overall rationale for the World Book and Copyright Day, resonated clearly with the overall strategic thrust of Vision 2036 of creating a knowledgeable society.
For his part, Member of Parliament for Ngami constituency Mr Caterpillar Hikuama called on the government to establish a fully-fledged library in Sehithwa.
The current reading room, he said, was too small and needed renovation to ensure it was inviting.
He also appreciated the theme of the day saying it was relevant as it promoted the use of indigenous languages, which were part of culture.
Culture, he said gave dignity, identify and shapes people’s total way of life adding that currently, there was an outcry about indiscipline in schools because youngsters had adapted foreign cultures.
He said through use of indigenous languages communities would appreciate the value of culture and communicate easily with their children to rectify the situation. He express desire for indigenous languages to be used in other platforms like Parliamentary debates and the media for people to easily access messages.
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