Literacy drive under threat, laureate warns [Independent.ie]
- Published: 16 August 2011
SCHOOL libraries are being run down with disastrous results for the most excluded children, the Children's Literature Laureate has warned.
Dr Siobhan Parkinson, renowned children's author and Laureate na nOg, warned that unless primary school libraries were well-stocked with a wide range of books designed to excite children's interest, the Government's literacy programme would fail.
She said the decision by the previous administration to withdraw the schools' library service in 2008 meant that libraries had been run down.
The reason given for the cut was that schools were receiving larger capitation grants and principals could use this to fund the purchase of library books.
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