MPs will be out in force next week, but not to pass legislation or campaign for the upcoming elections. They will be presenting almost 100,000 books to children in low-decile schools throughout the country.
Since 1999 Government Book Week has been a highlight of the school year for children involved in the Duffy Books in Homes programme. The Ministry of Education donates a book to every Duffy kid which they choose from a catalogue, much like the Lucky Book Club brochures that so many children have grown up with.
However, while Lucky Books are an exciting part of many children’s time at school, those in low income areas are often not able to afford their cost. So while Duffy Books in Homes, schools and sponsors work hard to fundraise for books in Terms One and Three, the Government makes sure that Term Two’s books make it into children’s hands at no cost.
Minister of Education, Hon Anne Tolley, will be just one of the MPs supporting the initiative.
“Many schools will have a visit from a Member of Parliament to hand out books that the Government has sponsored. I know that, like me, the politicians enjoy their time in schools and the opportunity to encourage a love of reading and promoting the inspirational message It’s Cool to Read and Cool to Achieve,” she said.
In the last year alone the Government has donated more than 1.3 million dollars to ensure that children who would otherwise not have easy access to reading material not only have books available, but also experience the joy of book ownership.
Since the official launch in 1995 with 80 schools, 16,000 students and 14 sponsors, the Duffy Books in Homes programme has grown to encompass 541 schools, around 100,000 students and more than 200 sponsors in 2011. More than seven million books have been distributed to children in low-decile schools since its inception and the programme now distributes more than 600,000 books annually.
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