CROSS RIVER STATE: Good Reading Culture Responsible For Low Examination Malpractice In Schools – Library Board PRO
2 min read
By Oyagiri Chime
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Cross Rivers State Library Board, Honourable Obi Steve Mbia, has opined that the low level of examinations malpractice recorded in schools in the State was due to the good reading culture imbibed by students.
In an interview with Bochnews, Hon. Mbia disclosed that people in the State love reading and that is why even in the midst of the Covid-19 Pandemic, people were found patronizing the library,, though with the observance of the protocol.
“Even with the Covid-19 challenge, people still patronize the library. This is due partly to the fact that people in the State love reading and this informs the low level of examinations malpractice in our school system,” he asserted.
To underscore the importance of reading to students, Mbia stated that the Commisioner for Quality Education, Dr E Amanke, mandated the board to ensure sustenance of the reading culture among students.
To achieve that, the PRO said the Board would embark on an enlightenment campaign with a view to maintaining the reading tempo in both private and public schools when it resume.
He revealed that the incumbent governor of the State, Professor Ben Ayade, has renovated the internal facilities in the State library, which were dilapidated to create a conducive reading environment and would soon embark on working on the library building.
“The second phase, which is the physical outlook of the library building is in the pipeline. When all these are done, more books will be brought in,” he added.
He further stressed that; “The Cross Rivers State library is not obsolete as applicable to the ones in other States. We have printers and other machine for publishing, photocopying, lamination, binding and so on”.
The library Board image maker, who said patronage of the library was commendable, stated that the library would soon be positioned to attract researchers from companies, institutions and other states.
He equally said, “Due to the Governor’s interest in the library, an e-learning facility is currently being built in the library complex by Canaan City Lions Club and would soon be delivered to the state.”
Mbia further disclosed that as a result of the lean resources of the State, it could not establish libraries in all the local government areas, but would ensure that schools have libraries.
When asked if people still visit the library to read when they can easily access the internet for reading materials, he affirmed that the library remains indispensable because of the permanent nature of books, its affordability and accessibility.
