Dear All For Immediate Release
22 July 2010 *INVITATION TO EQUAL EDUCATION 24hr FAST FOR SCHOOL LIBRARIES* At 6pm on 29 July 2010 Equal Education (EE) will begin its 24hr Fast for School Libraries. Various events are organized to begin and end the fast (see below). The media is encouraged to contact us for more details on these. Thousands of ‘Fast kits’ which include stickers, posters and participation forms have been sent out across the country to individuals and groups that have pledged their support. EE is expecting to have more than 4500 people fasting in solidarity and has established 3 sites (Cape Town, Thohoyandou and Johannesburg) where there will be a gathering for the Breaking of the Fast 18:00 Friday 30 July 2010. Equal Education has been campaigning for a policy on School Libraries for the past year under the banner of ‘1 School, 1 Library, 1 Librarian’. As a result of EE’s consistent campaigning a National Policy recognising the need for access to a library or library stocks in every school was published by government on 11 June 2010. In addition, National Guidelines on School Libraries have been drafted, but these guidelines are not binding and do not come with provision for a budget allocation or an implementation plan to roll out school libraries. These developments are small progressive steps, but there are still clear gaps in policy which will continue to hinder the development of school libraries. Equal Education is fasting to continue raising public awareness around the campaign and to push for a stronger commitment from the Department of Basic Education. Any plan to improve access to school libraries must at least include funding and support from the DBE for: the establishment of school libraries; the training of and post-provisioning for librarians. Such a plan should also set clear target dates for its implementation. Lastly, any plan that is truly based on an understanding of the critical importance of school libraries should include the long term goal of having a functioning library in every school in the country. Equal Education would like to invite all members of the media to attend the Breaking of the Fast in all 3 locations 30 July 2010 at 18:00. All Guests are asked to show up 30 mins early. Please take note of the venues and the contact people listed below. Cape Town: Bring your own food and join EE to begin the fast at 18:00pm on Thurs 29 at New Site C Hall, Khayelitsha. Join EE to Break the Fast on Fri 30 July at 18:00pm outside the *Cape Town International Convention Centre *(Convention Square 1 Lower Long Street). Interviews: Yoliswa at [email protected]<http://live.pmailer.net/servlet/link/3095/16383/7757784/173666>or call 021 387 0022 Logisitics: Ilan Strauss, 083 473 2080 / 021 387 0022, [email protected]<http://live.pmailer.net/servlet/link/3095/16383/7757784/173667> Thohoyandou (Limpopo): Join EE to begin the Fast at the University of Venda, Senate Chamber on Thurs 29 July at 18:00pm and to Break the Fast with EE on Fri 30 July at 18:00pm. Contact - Caroline Madzhie, 0722938201, [email protected]<http://live.pmailer.net/servlet/link/3095/16383/7757784/173668> Johannesburg: Join EE to Break the Fast on Fri 30 July at 18:00pm at Constitution Hill in the Conference Room (Old Fort Building and Entrance, Number 1 Kotze Street, Braamfontein). Contact -Samuel Fenyane, 0781913703, [email protected]<http://live.pmailer.net/servlet/link/3095/16383/7757784/173669> Bloemfontein: Breaking the fast with EE to be confirmed. Contact - Moses Masitha, 084 273 3537, [email protected]<http://live.pmailer.net/servlet/link/3095/16383/7757784/173670> [Ends] -- *Regards, Karabo Monatisi Equal Education: Communication officer Policy Communication and Research 021 387 0022/3 072 204 5385 [email protected]* -- [email protected] or [email protected]. You will find me on both e-mails cell:0789228959 tell:021-387-0022/3 fax:086 604 1369 "Sometimes, if you wear suits for too long, it changes your ideology." - Joe Slovo -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] .
