For 17 years the
Government has been adding to home libraries around the country thanks to its
support of the Duffy Books in Homes programme.
In addition to
their overall support of the programme, the Government, via the Ministry of
Education, supplies a free brand new book of their choice to almost 100,000
primary and intermediate students in low decile schools each year.
The books are
chosen from a catalogue, much like the Lucky Book Club, and schools invite
Government representatives to present the books at a special assembly at the
end of Term Two.
This week, Members
of Parliament, local body representatives and other civil servants are visiting
522 schools throughout New Zealand to share their experiences of reading with
children before helping to present their books.
Minister of
Education, Hon Hekia Parata, is a long-time supporter of the programme.
“I fully support
the Duffy programme and the wonderful work it is doing to support and encourage
parents, families and whanau to become involved in their child’s reading,” she
said.
Since the official launch in 1995 with 80
schools, 16,000 students and 14 sponsors, the Duffy Books in Homes programme
has grown to encompass 522 schools, around 100,000 students and more than 200
sponsors in 2013. More than eight
million books have been distributed to children in low-decile schools since its
inception and the programme now distributes more than 600,000 books annually.
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