A group of basic education school principals looks at a display of box libraries at the project launch August 30. Pic: Hein Latt Aung

THE Ministry of Education launched a program last week to distribute small collections of children’s books called “box libraries” to primary schools throughout Myanmar.

According to the program, a selection of locally produced children’s books will be placed inside boxes, which will be handed out to school-based preschools and lower primary classrooms through-out the country.

“The project is a step towards improving the quality of basic education being implemented by the ministry,” Deputy Minister of Education Brigadier General Aung Myo Min said in a speech at the launch ceremony for the project, held August 30 at Sedona Hotel.

The ceremony also marked the launch of 14 new books for the program, which are aimed at children up to five years of age.

The content of the new books has been jointly developed by a wide range of government departments and experts from non-government organisations, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The UNICEF representa-tive in Myanmar, Dr Ramesh Shrestha, said box libraries are an effective tool in helping schools become more child-friendly by providing children with access to quality books that are developmentally appropriate and provide the intellectual stimulation and emotional security that all children need to become successful learners.

“UNICEF is proud to be part of this creative initiative that promotes and supports children’s reading at early age and throughout the primary education cycle,” he said.

The Department of Education Planning and Training’s deputy director general, U Tun Hla, said boxes with the 14 new books will initially be distributed to 6000 basic education schools that provide pre-school classes.

“We plan to send out 8000 box libraries a year, and we plan to reach every primary school in the country by 2010 with the support of UNICEF,” he said.
The books will help children develop their creativity and imagination, build vocabulary and strengthen their use of language, he said.

“The books will also help children reach out to the world beyond home and community and perceive an ever-expanding array of possibilities,” he added.