Introduction/Background
The Revolving Core Textbooks (RECOTEXT) Program is part of the Village Libraries Initiative (VLI) designed to enhance access to essential textbooks, and mitigate the gap of schools textbooks in Cameroon.
Its aimed at easing access to English, Mathematics and French among others, to children in primary and secondary schools.
Books affect children in many different ways. Early exposure to books and reading from a very young age have been shown in countless educational research studies to lead to increased concentration in school, a wider vocabulary, an inquiring mind and a greater ability to keep learning after school. Research has also shown that after the teacher, the access a child has to appropriate text books is the most important factor determining academic achievement.
Mobilization of the Tole Community Buea, for the launching of the program
Before launching the RECOTEXT Program, the Tole Village Library was established and a donation of over 2000 books for schools use and general reading offered to it by LINK-UP, through its community leader.
This is a mobilization strategy to awaken them and also to illustrate the seriousness of the initiative. The donation was received by the Village Head Pa EWINJA on behalf of the community.
This was followed by the launching proper of the Tole Village library by the Divisional officer and Mayor for Buea and the Tole Village Community on the 11 April 2015. The Divisional officer commended the efforts made to establish the program, and described the initiative as a revival in education sector of Cameroon.
Due to the high level of poverty in the country, many families cannot afford these basic textbooks for their children, leading to over 90 percent of children attending school without a textbooks.
According to a survey carried out by LINK-UP in 2012, less than 8 percent of school children could afford a text book within the entire school year.
The problem is made worse by the frequent change of textbooks, making it difficult for children to use the same textbooks for a few years.
RECOTEXT has come to fill this gap to solve the challenge faced both by the Government and Parents in the textbook sector.
Pilot of the RECOTEXT program GSS Bwiyuku Tole 20 November 2015
Goal: To establish a proof of concept of the RECOTEXT Program.
In order to establish a proof of concept, the program, was introduced to the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) Annual General Assembly Meeting of GSS Bwiyuku Tole, that held on the 26th of May 2015.
This PTA body was greatly impressed with the initiative and unanimously agreed to integrate the project within its programs. Some parents asked how this program could be possible, when the Government kept changing textbooks almost on a year basis. In response, it was agreed that, the Government Text regulating the Entry and Exit of textbooks into and out of the school system will be respected. The text stipulates that, textbooks agreed to be used by a school must be maintained on the book list for at least three years.
At the end of the meeting, a Memo of Understanding (MOU) was signed between LINK-UP, GSS Bwiyuku and the Parent Teachers Association.
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Moving forward
In order for the RECOTEXT Programme to be activated, an incentive was provided for the parents to contribute 10,000frs for the three core textbooks, i.e. English, French and Mathematics even though this amount cannot afford the three books in addition to the cost of registration into the program.
The next challenge is how to provide the 3rd textbook, the French to complete the set of core textbooks to begin the test of concept. This is where faith comes in.
At the beginning of the 2015/2016 school year, parents began to register their children into this program. After over 75 students had been registered from GSS Bwiyuku Tole – Buea and the Remedial Bilingual Comprehensive High School Buea, it became obvious that the test of concept could begin
To move the process forward, the parents of the registered children were invited to a planning meeting for the launch of the program. Within this meeting, they agreed to set up a committee of parents and guardians of children in the program to oversee the effectiveness of the program.
An organizing committee was then established for the launching of the event, with the parents making some extra contributions for refreshment. Various sub committees were set up, invitations prepared and distributed
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By this time Joseph Schuld of FATE (NGO) U.S.A had indicated his interest to assist the parents with the 3rd textbook which is French, in order to complete the set of core textbooks for the test of concept to begin.
20th November 2015, Launching of the test of concept of RECOTEXT
The event was officiated by local and administrative authourities that included the Divisional officer for Buea, the Divisional and Regional Delegates of Secondary Education South West Region, the Regional Delegate of Social Affairs south west, the UNESCO National Vice Club President as well as the Chief of the Bwiyuku /Tole village who came along with his village council members and his MALEY traditional dance group.
Their presence demonstrated the very strong importance of the program to the Government and the community.
It started with the singing of the National Anthem by the students of GSS Bwiyuku, and prayer by one of the parents. The Principal of the school Mr AGBOR Hillary OJONG, welcomed everyone to the event. Within his address, he was very grateful to all present to witness this historical event that has come to transform the landscape of the learning environment of his school.
He disclosed that prior to this program, less than 25 of these essential textbooks were available in his school. But thanks to this program, over 210 core textbooks are now available with the prospects of the number to increase as the days go by.
This was followed by an address from the representative of the Parents and Guardians of children in the Program, Mr. NGOLE Mathias. He went ahead to appreciate this initiative on behalf of the parents and to thank the promoter for bringing forth such a lofty program to alleviate the burden on parents vis- a-vis affording textbooks for their children.
The Chief of the Village, HRH Chief KULU followed and pledged his full support behind the project. He thanked the promoter for choosing his Village for the pilot of the program and reminded the students that this program has been given to them on a platter of Gold and should be jealously preserved.
The children representative by name MBONG Judith, then spoke and thanked their parents and the school authourities for investing in them by giving them a chance to be part of this initiative.
All of this is spiced by songs from the children, and music from a life Artist, JM of Africa, Julius MUSI who is also UNESCO National Clubs Vice President, who spoke and emphasized the importance of education with regards to the mission of UNESCO.
This was then followed by a word from the promoter of LINK-UP, U.T. Roland MUSI, who thanked the Principal for his collaboration in providing a conducive environment for the pilot of the program in his school. He thanked the parents for registering their children into the program and for the benefactor of the 3rd book Joseph Schuld for providing the French textbook to the 76 students. He ended by introducing the guest of honour who expressed his warm feelings for being given the opportunity to participate directly in improving the lives of children in need.
The various Government officials lauded the initiative and the representative of the Divisional officer closed the event.
This was followed by group photograph and interviews to the officials present.
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Some children signing and receiving the core textbooks after fulfilling the basic registration requirements.
At the end of the school year, all the children in G.S.S Bwiyuku returned their books but for two who dropped from school before the end of the year, giving a recovery rate of success of 97.22 percent.
Innovation:
RECOTEXT provides a unique system for children within the program, to exchange the core textbooks within themselves until the end of their school program, hence providing the opportunity for recycling text books and reducing waste. This implies that, the multiplier effects of the benefits of a book will last for several years since a textbook will be used by different children. This will also enhance the multiplier effect of a donation.
A web platform will be integrated into the program to enhance the effective and transparent management of the program. It will also enable donated textbooks to the program to be easily monitored and tracked, thereby avoiding the scenario where books meant for particular children or school children disappear into the black market.
Strategy
A ONE TIME Participation fee of 15,000frs per child is required for the first year to obtain the core textbooks, a library card and a signed a memo of understanding. For subsequent years, a minimal registration fee is expected from members to guarantee sustainability.
The way forward
In response to strong demand for the program from several schools and communities, both urban and rural, we have embarked on a campaign to provide core textbooks to more children within this academic year. Our focus is on children in Government schools and mission primary schools, where a majority of the less privileged children are found.
This structure established through RECOTEXT needs to be domesticated to give individuals and families a voice as part of the solution to the textbook problem. This is in addition to the voices of other stake holders already involved in the process like the government, publishers and schools authourities.
The program will integrate a set of strategies aimed at enhancing access to textbooks and learning resources, through the development of libraries as well as multimedia platforms to enhance E-Learning.
Conclusion
LINK-UP has successfully carried out the pilot of RECOTEXT and registered a success of 97.22 percent in GSS BWIYUKU Tole for the 2015/2016 school year and needs to replicate the program in more schools.
The video link of the launching of RECOTEXT https://youtu.be/72PobbTjEzE