Rotary donates over 800 books to St Dominic Savio R/C Basic School

THE Rotary Club of Tema Community 25, Rotary International District 9104, has donated more than 800 reading books to St Dominic Savio R/C Basic School at Afienya to improve pupils’ reading skills and support teaching and learning.

The donation was made last Friday on the school premises and formed part of the club’s literacy and basic education activities. It was accompanied by a reading clinic and mentorship session involving about 500 pupils.

The initiative brought together members of the Rotary Club of Tema Community 25, Rotaract Clubs of Tema Community 25 and Central University, as well as partner Rotaract clubs from Tema Meridian, GCUC, GTUC, GIMPA and UHAS.

Speaking to The Spectator, the President of the Rotary Club of Tema Community 25 for the 2026/27 Rotary year, Prince Manu-Barfo, said the initiative was aimed at encouraging pupils to develop good reading habits while exposing them to career guidance and positive role models.

He said literacy and basic education were among Rotary’s seven areas of focus, explaining that the club supported schools through reading and mentorship activities.

According to him, pupils from kindergarten to Primary Three participated in a reading clinic, where they read storybooks from the donated collection with their teachers.

The best readers from each class were recognised and awarded as part of efforts to motivate other pupils to develop an interest in reading.

Pupils from Primary Four to Basic Eight, meanwhile, took part in a mentorship session led by professionals in engineering, STEM, education and child development.

He said about 500 pupils participated in the activities despite an ongoing teachers’ strike, adding that the support of teachers who were available contributed to the success of the programme.

Mr Manu-Barfo said the Rotary Club would continue to support the school, particularly in improving its library and creating a more conducive environment for reading.

The Headmistress of St Dominic Savio R/C Basic School, Madam Mary Dziwornu, welcomed the donation, saying improved reading skills would have a positive effect on pupils’ performance in other subjects.

She said the ability to read, understand and comprehend information was fundamental to children’s academic development.

According to her, the books would strengthen pupils’ reading and comprehension skills and enable them to tackle other subjects that required them to understand written information.

The Headmistress said measures had been put in place to ensure that the books were properly managed and remained available to pupils.

She explained that teachers, particularly members of the English Department, would be responsible for managing the library, with support from a French teacher.

A monitoring system would also be used to keep records of books borrowed by pupils and teachers.

By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu

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