Since June 2023, support and monitoring from Taman Bacaan Pelangi at SDK Nggolonio have ended, so the school has been conducting their library activities independently.

A full year has passed, how is their school library doing now? Here are some points we can reflect on after hearing and witnessing the latest news from the library at SDK Nggolonio, Nagekeo district, East Nusa Tenggara.

The fifth grade teacher was conducting a paired reading activity in the library

At SDK Nggolonio, the teachers have shown full initiative and awareness to conduct reading activities with their students in the library. Each homeroom teacher accompanies their students in various types of reading activities, such as independent reading, shared reading, paired reading, and reading aloud. All these activities are conducted weekly. Outside these hours, all students are allowed to enter whenever they want as long as it does not disturb their lesson time. Despite the overwhelming amount of school administration that the teachers need to complete, they consistently carry out these activities. This initiative is certainly due to the leadership of the principal, Mrs. Prisca Yusnita Padang, known as Mama Prisca, who actively supports the teachers.

To ensure sustainability, Mama Prisca, along with the librarian and teachers, has allocated a fund of 1 million rupiah to purchase children’s reading books. Last year, in 2023, they successfully purchased around 10 large books for shared reading activities in the library. “In 2024, we have budgeted 3 million rupiah to add to the school library’s book collection and are currently in the process of purchasing. We will consistently make these purchases in the coming years,” said Mama Prisca.

Mrs Yeni, the librarian, was managing the book checkout in the library

Besides purchasing books, Mama Prisca, the librarian, and the teachers have started making some innovations to improve literacy at the school. On May 2, 2024, during the National Education Day (Hardiknas) celebration, they held an inter-class literacy competition. Each class had its representatives. One of the activities contested was reading aloud. This activity is intended to keep the children enthusiastic about reading and borrowing books from the library. With this competition, the school hopes to hone the children’s creativity, especially in the field of literacy.

One of the students was reading aloud for her classmates in the library

All the creativity put in by the principal and the teachers has started to show some results. Based on the results of the Minimum Competency Assessment (AKM) conducted by the government in 2022, SDK Nggolonio was still at a moderate level. The good news is, from the 2023 AKM results, SDK Nggolonio has now achieved a good literacy level. “Our first-grade children are now fluent in reading, whereas previously, even by the time they moved to second grade, many still couldn’t read. One of the factors supporting their reading skills is the consistency of their homeroom teacher, Mrs. Skolastika, who always motivates her pupils to actively visit the library,” explained Mama Prisca.

Mrs Skolastika was conducting independent reading in the library

With the ongoing spirit and dedication from all staff and full support from Mama Prisca, SDK Nggolonio has successfully created an inspiring literacy environment for the students. This success proves that with cooperation and commitment, positive changes can be achieved in the world of education.