Held since 2008, the Children’s Literacy Fun Fair is RBZ’s calendar event. It is aimed at raising the profile of children’s literacy skills, and also affords children from all walks of life an opportunity to interact with their role models and get mentored on the value of education and literacy. Apart from the story telling and writing, speed reading, spelling and other competitions, there is a lot of fun and the environment is really non-threatening

The Zambia Institute for Special Education (ZAMISE) was the 2009 guest partner and used modern equipment to assess children’s reading skills. Over 30 children were tested, out of which only six of had problems with reading.

The 2010 edition will be held on September 12.

Consultations for the formulation of Zambia’s Book Policy reached their peak with the 1998 draft Book Policy, and then died a ‘natural’ death. Ten years later, in April 2008, RBZ re-mobilised stakeholders, and with support from the National Commission for UNESCO, held a number of consultative meetings which culminated in the December 2008 landmark meeting at which the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education (MoE) officiated. After a number of reminders, MoE finally agreed to a meeting hosted at the Directorate of Open and Distance Education (DODE). This meeting was held in October, 2008, and the MoE representatives requested for copies of the draft Book Policy and pledged to revert after in-house consultations. Nothing has been done to-date.

Because of the impact of the National Book Policy on efforts to enhancing reading and literacy promotion, RBZ intends to pursue this matter with the Ministry of Education in 2010.

This is a day set aside by the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to commemorate the many functions of the book in the life of human society. It also offers an opportunity to reflect on the place of copyright in connection with books. The 2010 edition will be the 15th edition but for Zambia, it will be the third commemoration. RBZ has been coordinating stakeholders’ input into this event with great difficulties, particularly in raising funds and other resources. For this year, RBZ will have an in-house commemoration at one of its Buku Clubs.

A spelling bee is a competition where contestants, usually children are asked to spell English words. Spelling bees encourage reading and mastery of words and the English language.

Read Beyond Zambia (RBZ) introduced children’s spelling competition in schools. The first spelling competition was held between May and July 2009 and 100 local basic schools that participated were drawn from all GRZ schools in Lusaka. Only pupils in Grade five took part.

The 2010 edition will be the second consecutive spelling competition to be held in schools, and the participation of children from private schools is one unique feature. It will also be the first to be broadcast live on television. Due to logistical challenges, however, only Lusaka based schools will take part.

Read Beyond Zambia congratulates all the candidates who sat and passed their grade seven examinations in 2009. We also congratulate the various stakeholders for their contribution to the over 70 per cent pass rate recorded in these examinations.