READ A BOOK,NOT A KINDLE!...HOW WILL NIGERIA CELEBRATE WORLD BOOK DAY NEXT MONTH?(1)

Happy World Book Day! What’s World Book Day?

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Today, March 7, British citizens are celebrating World Book Day. The rest of us will have to wait a few more weeks.

Huh?

Let us explain. World Book Day was started by UNESCO (the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and is celebrated on Apr. 23 — a date chosen, according to UNESCO, to mark the day in 1616 that saw the deaths of Cervantes, Shakespeare, and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. The event is meant to honor authors and encourage literacy. And it’s not just World Book Day. It’s also UNESCO’s Copyright Day, meant to urge implementation of copyright-protection conventions around the world.

(MORE: Ouch! Check Out the Harshest Book Review of the Year)

The U.K. and Ireland version of World Book Day is observed earlier, partly due to working around school holidays, and involves a literacy-promoting charity — as well as something the rest of the world is missing: costumes.

As the BBC recounts, the day is often marked by children dressing up as their favorite literary characters—even when those characters are only slightly book-related. In this particular complaint, the character in question is a Lego ninja—and the day ends up not so much about books after all:

There was a time when reading a book meant just that. In your head, out loud, to yourself or to a crowd. Whichever way, it was reading.

But not any more. It’s about dressing up. Or at least it’s about dressing up if you happen to be of school age and your teachers have been sucked into the literary-industrial complex of World Book Day.

Somehow we doubt that UNESCO will be adding World Literary-Industrial Complex Day to the calendar any time soon…

By Lily Rothman/ENTERTAINMENT TIME.COM

Happy World Book Day! Some Interesting Facts

In honour of World Book Day, which is being celebrated today in the UK, we thought we’d delve into the interesting stories and trivia hiding behind some of the most popular and successful books ever written. So, here goes…



The biggest-selling book written in English is Charles Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities. Dickens’s 1859 novel about the French Revolution (the ‘two cities’ of the title are London and Paris) is in many ways his most untypical book: of the fifteen novels he wrote (including the unfinished The Mystery of Edwin Drood), it is arguably the least comic (with Hard Times not far ahead of it for laughs). Since no small part of Dickens’s perennial popularity is surely his genius for comedy, along with his portrayals of Victorian London, it seems odd that this novel – which is largely set in Paris – should be his most popular. But it is, in terms of sales: an estimated 200 million copies have been sold over the last 150-odd years, making it the bestselling book in the English language.

The second and third bestselling books in English are both by J. R. R. Tolkien. Yes, The Lord and the Rings and The Hobbit are, respectively, the second and third biggest-selling books written originally in the English language, making Tolkien’s combined sales from these two books (if you follow Tolkien’s lead and see The Lord of the Rings as a single novel, rather than a trilogy) an estimated 250 million. Not bad, considering that The Hobbit started life one day when Tolkien was bored marking university exam papers at Oxford…

There are numerous bestselling novels which are longer than War and Peace. Although War and Peace is famous principally for being such a long novel, there are many classics which surpass it for their sheer word count. Vikram Seth’s A Suitable Boy, Samuel Richardson’s Clarissa, and Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time/Remembrance of Things Past are among the most famous novels which out-War and Peace War and Peace. But Tolstoy produced the definitive ‘long novel’. His original title for the novel was All’s Well That Ends Well (same as the Shakespeare play). Woody Allen once said: ‘I just speed-read War and Peace. It’s about some Russians.’

Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar has sold around 30 million copies. This classic children’s book was originally called ‘A Week with Willi Worm’, with the main protagonist being a bookworm.

The Harry Potter book series is the biggest selling series of novels ever published. J. K. Rowling’s seven novels about the boy wizard have sold around 450 million copies collectively, and have helped to popularise the word ‘muggle’ … although the word ‘muggle’ dates back, with various meanings, to the thirteenth century. (It originally meant ‘a tail resembling that of a fish’.)

The first official World Book Day was celebrated on 23 April 1995. This is partly because Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare both died on this date, 23 April 1616 (although, in point of fact, Cervantes had died the day before). William Wordsworth would also die on 23 April, 1850 – St. George’s Day. Indeed, a truly international World Book Day is still celebrated on 23 April every year.

We hope you enjoyed our special World Book Day facts! Have a enjoyable and literary day, and go lose yourself in a good book this day of all days…

World Book Day: What does reading mean to you?

Hopefully you know that today is World Book Day. And if you don’t, then you should. Because it is a celebration of reading; one of the most enjoyable things in the world to do… And something that everyone needs to do more of. Reading is something I feel quite passionately about so, if you don’t feel the same, probably best to switch off now.

World Book Day is now in its 16^th year, and is the opportunity for children of all ages to come together to appreciate reading in every which way they can.

The very heart of it is about encouraging children to explore the pleasure of reading, by providing them with the opportunity to have a book of their own; thanks to National Book Tokens Ltd. But, thinking about World Book Day, got me considering books in general and the bigger picture.

The key thing for me is the books themselves, I love everything about them. I love going to the library, browsing the shelves, choosing the ones I want to read, and then checking them out on my library card. I love old books, I love new books, I love long books, I love short books.

But libraries all across the UK are closing all the time, and these are the cheapest and best way for children to be able to explore the concept of reading. So if this kind of facility is dying, how can we expect them to really get pleasure from books in the same way that we did when we were growing up?

It makes me sad to think that they might never get involved in a Famous Five adventure, want to be a member of the Saddle Club, or laugh themselves silly at The Twits.

I can imagine that most of you, by now, are thinking that I have missed a fairly important point… Digital. Kindle. E-Book. Whatever else you might want to call it. I have not missed it, or forgotten it, I just don’t think it is the same. Happy to discuss, but prepare yourself for a healthy debate! That is only when it comes to reading books though.

In other areas of my life I will embrace digital. Particularly when it comes to the news, which is another one of my favourite things; and brings me back to what I am probably supposed to be discussing on the Speed blog!

Reading for me is not just about books. I will quite literally devour anything. And that includes news. Which is so critical in the PR and communications industry. I don’t think anyone could do this job without being one step ahead of the news at all times, particularly in the corporate team. We need to know everything that is going on with everything, in order to relate to our clients, their business issues, the markets they operate in and so on…

So if you want to work in corporate PR, I would suggest you do the following:

-          Read the news

-          Read the news

-          Read the news

And if you ever want to work with me, I would suggest you do the following:

-          Read a book (not a Kindle)!

by lauraimregi

WAYS TO PROVIDE MORE FUNDING FOR NIGERIAN PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS

PROVIDING  LIFE JACKETS  OF FUNDING FOR LGAS/LCDAS  PRIMARY

SCHOOLS IN NIGERIA (AN ADDRESS TO ALL CARING CHAIRMEN)

[caption id="attachment_1585" align="aligncenter" width="300"] mason foundation school students....there is no reason for the great gulf between them and public school students...[/caption]

(A). PREAMBLE/ASSUMPTIONS

1. All protocols observed. Kindly let this presentation be in a summarized format to focus clearly on what is most important.

2. We all know that government funds whether from national, state, ETF or World Bank sources shall never be adequate for funding primary schools in your domains. Hence there is a need to tap or source funds or voluntary donations in cash or in kind from within and outside your domain through those linked to or resident within. One obvious advantage of this method is its ability to perpetuate itself no matter the party in power.

3.The overall aim for sourcing these funds shall be the reduction of the gap between public and private schools in the LGA. It will at the same time aim to overturn the unnoticed trend in the country whereby 3 classes of citizens as identified by us are being generated through the educational system.

4.In making our proposals we will itemize the needs of primary schools in your domains which if fulfilled can help dissipate the feeling of inferiority complex among public primary school students. It is a well-known fact that the best teachers and probably the best students are more often than not to be found in public primary schools.

5.With local participation in funding it shall be expected that more interest shall be shown by your local residents  in the education of their children.

6.However, there is a need for determination of purpose and political sagacity to implement these proposals once they are accepted wholesale or partly. Chief Obafemi Awolowo was told that his educational objectives were too far-fetched and not achievable. Well, we are all witnesses to the fact that history proved him right. By now it must be obvious to the you Chairmen how difficult it can be to implement some programs no matter the good intentions and careful thoughts put in place for them.

7.Kindly note that our proposals will not dabble into things which your LGA cannot modify or cancel. These include overall national educational policies, curriculum arrangement, subject schemes of work etc. But surely something can be done about quality and control of educational inputs for our children. Specifically, your LGAs can  do something to improve homework/classroom assignment, tests, performance reports etc.

8.We have therefore divided the needs of students in our primary schools as follows:

(a)      Hardware-related (fixed assets) needs

(b)      Academic-related needs

(c)      Co-curricula-related needs

(d)     Personal-related needs

(e)      Remedial-related needs

These are listed in detail below… but we do understand that conditions are not the same all over Nigeria and that what is desirable in one LGA might not be implementable in others.

(B)     WHAT ARE THE NEEDS OF OUR CHILDREN?

(1)   Hardware Needs

- Renovation of existing but damaged infrastructure

- Provision of additional classrooms and relevant furniture

- Provision of teaching and educational charts, audio/visual equipment

- Provision of Library services, textbooks, and reference books

- Provision of basic science rooms

- Provision of computers/printers

- Provision of rooms for arts and craft

- Provision of games and sporting facilities or playgrounds, indoor and ball games

- Landscaped environment demarcated properly into walk ways with stones, playing fields and areas of greenery made   up of grass and/or  flowers to provide a  conducive atmosphere for schooling

-  Provision of perimeter fences and fenced gates

- Provision of secured storage facilities for keeping school assets

- Provision of cafeteria, health bay,water supply and toilet facilities

- Provision of SKOLEE buses marked with the LGA’s names

- Provision of 5KVA generators for special programs or for pumping water

- Provision of musical instruments.

(2)  Academic Needs

- Manpower training and staff incentives

- Extra manpower needs for staffing additional programs being  proposed  especially under remedial needs

- Implementation and follow-up of home work, class assignments, lateness and absentee records.

- Preparation and delivery of monthly/terminal reports to parents.

- Inter-school competitions covering debate, essay writing, quiz, maths, english etc.

-Setting up of academic-related students’ clubs

- Scholarship schemes based on examinations administered by the Education Department of your LGA. This will be for admission into reasonably-priced   private secondary schools within the   domain with   up to 60% reduction in fees granted by the schools to the LGA

- Educational Tours and Excursions.

(3)   Co-curricula-related Needs

- Inter-school games and sports competitions IN DECENT SPORTING     ARENAS

- Inter-school competitions covering choral/singing, dancing, drama as    well as use of musical equipment

- Setting up of students’ co-curricula-related clubs including those of Man-O-War, Scouting, Red Cross, Green Movement etc.

(4)  Personnel-Related Needs

- Well-tailored uniforms not looking like those produced in war-torn zones

- Implementation of appropriate shoe/sock schemes coupled with proper hairstyles

-  Monitoring of personal hygiene, through uniforms, finger nails etc

-  Implementation of a mentoring system for those about to take national examinations

5. Remedial –related Needs

This is more or less guidance and counseling directed at those taking external examinations. It involves the use of extension classes on Saturdays between the hours of 10am to 3pm. (unheard of in public schools you might say.Maths and English classes can also be followed up with motivational discussions targeting the inferiority complex mode that is usually in existence amongst them. Parent Days should also target school leavers. Parents need to be presented with reports covering many performance indices. And these can be provided by us. Please let us also note that Parents’ Days are not to be equated to PTA days or events.

(C)  SO HOW DO WE FINANCE/ IMPLEMENT ALL THESE?

 (1)  BY FUNDS GENERATION

(a)  Setting up of an overall Educational Foundation for your LGA with launching to be done by the State Governor, Commissioner of Education and various political leaders from all parties. Leaders of industry and Commerce from the private sector and high net worth individuals from the society etc should also be invited.

(b)  Setting up of Local Management Committees for schools or groups of schools.

(c) Reaching softly to private school proprietors in the domain for assistance or adoption of public schools as initiated by Dr. (Mrs.) Ezekwesili when she was the Federal Minister of Education. Other organizations which can be useful are Rotary and Lion clubs, International Society of Women etc especially for books and health bay facilities. NGO’s and Foundations such as those of General Danjuma, Dr Dangote and other businessmen will also be helpful.

(2)   BY EXPENDITURE REDUCTION

(a)Your LGA should consider acquiring SKOLEE buses either brand new or through the State Government by conversion from their old fleet.

(b) Instead of buying some of the hardware for each school your LGA may consider opening one or two multipurpose educational centers which Edupedia has named CENTRES OF LIGHT. If well equipped they can be operated with a time table which shall be integrated with the time table of school leavers in each school so that those from eachschool can be the center once or twice in a month for computer education, ball/indoor games, library facilities such as novels comics, newspapers, magazines and audio/visual programmes such as educational films and computer games.

(c) But if the CENTER OF LIGHT cannot accommodate sporting facilities, each school can have paved centres within for ball games such as basketball and volley ball and five-a-side football.

(d) NYSC graduates can also be used to fill the staffing gaps which are likely to be created by remedial needs and relevant programs On the other hand, your LGA can institute a volunteer corp of young school leavers properly briefed by the consultant for the project (EDUPEDIA) to fill in the gap. Those used might be given token stipend for the job as long as they are made to understand what volunteer service really implies from the beginning. Above all, EDUPEDIA can be used for implementation of these programs at a reasonable cost. Of course all these have to be done hand-in-hand with the Education Department of your LGA

Thanking you.

Yours faithfully

EDUPEDIA ASSOCIATES

Managing Consultant

NOTE:…kindly refer this write-up to the LGA chairman closest to you…thanks