STUDENTS ENCOURAGED TO READ

"Education is the most important catalyst for bringing about the desired change in individual societies," said Prof. Sam Ongeri, Minister for Education, during the opening of the opening of the 12th Nairobi International Book Fair, adding that, "reading is paramount in acquiring education and therefore books becomes an integral element of the education process."

Research has confirmed that household economy is directly affected by the level of education attained by the partners. Thus the ministers said, "children's literacy impact on the long term economic health of any country."

Thousands of pupils and students, parents and teachers streamed to Sarit Centre at Nairobi from September 23 to 27 to have an opportunity to interact and share ideas and learn from the publishers on the benefit of their education.

As the children moved around the 59 exhibition stands within Sarit Centre they were able to get connected with books they read from various publishers presentations.

Mrs. Nancy Kamiri, the chair of Kenya Publishers Association says that they are out to promote reading for leisure and not for passing examination alone.

The book fair which was dabbed as “Read for Change”, also presents an opportunity for young people who have a writing passion to meet publishers and learn about the publishing process.

Prof. Henry Indangasi of the University of Nairobi language and literature department with other writes and editors facilitated a writing workshop to budding authors. Indangasi said that writing and reading are inseparable.

Young people were encouraged to be anchored in books instead of wasting time watching TV wanting programmes and movies, viewing phonography or listening to destructive music. But to read books - as they activate their thinking - thus one becoming smart.

“Reading is a skill builder,” said Ongeri, "every good course on the planet has a matching book to go with it. Because books help clarify difficult subjects. Books provide information that goes deeper than just classroom discussion."

Reading for pleasure was alluded for its cognitive benefits."It improves skill and strategy use, builds fluency, enlarges vocabulary, and builds a student's knowledge of the world."

The professor of Medicine said that books remains a major vessel for ideas and hence plays a significant role in education. "For fifteen centuries, as a media form, the books have proven unsurpassable. Of course, e-books are slowly claiming ground and it's likely that, in due time, the digital form may override paper." This gives publishers, booksellers and writers a chase before the web makes its move. Yes, even the Internet depends heavily on reading and writing.

So far one of the greatest challenge facing our societies is that of ensuring that all children are obtaining access to books and discover the joy and the value of reading.