Bloom Software to encourage writing of local language books

INNOVATION

All writers of local language and other books can now easily write and publish their stories on time.

This follows the introduction of the new "Bloom Software" the first of its kind in the country aimed at promoting writing local language books.

With the new software, all writers in Uganda and across the continent, can write and share their stories for free.

The software can be downloaded freely, for all interested local language writers of children books, to write their stories and publish them online at no cost.

Paricipants in the inter-Country Quality Node on teaching and learning materials at Imperial Royale Hotel Kampala learning how to use Bloom a software which can be used to create decodable and labeled books in different languages across Africa. Photo by Katumba Badru

The software also allows people to translate several stories in various languages as long as they acknowledge the authors.

Several writers from Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania kicked off training on Monday using the new technology at Imperial Royal Hotel in Kampala.

The training is organised by the Association for the Development of Education in African (ADEA, funded by USAID, with support from Ministry of Education.

The ADEA Focal Point for English learning materials in English speaking countries in Africa, Lily Nyariki said local languages are key for learning especially for children to easily understand better.

"It is scientifically proven that local languages start off children very well. When they learn the local languages, they easily pick English and other languages at a later stage," she explained.

Nyariki said Bloom software was created by the Summer Institute of Linguistics to aid writers to write and translate books in local languages.

"Writers use special characters that have been developed within the system. So the Boom Software becomes a key tool for local language writers who are able to quickly do a book and produce it in a short time," she explained.

Nyariki said they are training trainers who will go and spread the technology to others.

"This is open source software. Anyone can download it and produce books for children. The problem is we do not have books in Africa in local languages. It is the weakest link in teaching and learning of our children," she said.

The Assistant Commissioner Extraction Materials Ministry of Education, Simon Peter Tukei said the tool enhances capacity of writers to write more materials in local languages to promote learning.

He said there is still a challenge with some languages, a reason why books are still lacking.  

Tukei added that the pupil-book ratio is still low with six to one in other subjects; three to one (English) and four to one (Mathematics) in  primary education.

"There are no rules for writing certain languages. We have a problem of various dialects.

Within some communities and languages, there are variations in the way words are pronounced and written. That causes a little a bit of difficulty which means some communities will not embrace some publications," he explained.

Tukei said local languages help children develop writing skills and understanding comprehension better and later pick other languages.  

The annual budget for books is between sh13b and sh14b for primary schools.

Charles Batambuze, the executive director, National Book Trust Uganda, said the new tool will increase reading materials and market Uganda's books internationally.