Government to formulate national book policy

By A.G. Musamali THE government is in the process of formulating a national book policy, State Minister for Higher Education, Betty Akech, has said. “Books the world over are still indispensable tools for instruction in classrooms and in the acquisition of knowledge generally, especially in developing countries,” Akech said. “People need to read to acquire knowledge in order to improve their welfare,” she added. Akech was on Tuesday representing Prime Minister Apolo Nsibambi at the official launch of the National Book Week Festival at the Kampala Constitutional Square. She said Government appreciates efforts to encourage children to read materials outside prescribed classroom texts. Akech said Government was faced with the challenge of improving the quality and relevance of education and therefore, needed the support and collaboration of all stakeholders in the book industry. National Book Trust of Uganda (NABOTU) chairman, James Tumusiime, said East African Book Development Association recently signed a three-year US$1m contract with the Swedish International Development Agency for the East African Book Development Project. Tumusiime said the project would support the publishing industry’s vision that the best form of investment for a country is in the education of its people. He, however, lamented the absence of an institutionalised working method between NABOTU and the government agencies. The festival, whose them is “Anytime is Reading Time”, closes on Sunday.