Intsebenziswano High School in Philippi officially launched its library last week.
Among the guests who attended the event on Thursday August 15, were officials from the Department of Education.
Library teacher Pamela Skenjana said the school had embarked on the library project quite some time ago, and now it had finally been realised.
With the help of various stakeholders, she said, they had managed to source books.
Ms Skenjana said many children battled to read and write, and she hoped having easy access to a library would help them develop their literacy skills.
Through the library, she said, they wanted to inculcate a culture of reading books among the pupils.
“This is the first in introducing the love of books to our pupils.
“We want them to appreciate books and see their value. We want them to visit libraries more often. We want the library to produce informed pupils who would become great leaders,” she said.
Metro South Education District circuit 1 manager, Thandi Jafta, said she hoped the library would improve the quality of teaching and learning, adding that reading plays a critical role language development.
Ms Jafta emphasised the importance of children reading books written in their mother tongue and reminded those present that encouraging children to read books was not only the duty of the teachers but the community at large.
She also urged the pupils to read for fun and enjoyment, explaining that reading books introduced them to different worlds and helped them to discover new things in life.
Grade 9 pupil, Nonzukiso Jilaji, said she was excited about the library launch and that she could see herself spending a lot of time there as she loves to read and usually has a long walk to the library in her community.
Bhongolwethu Primary School principal, Helbert Mlindazwe, said reading helped children learn how the world functions and that for children to understand the content of their subjects, they need to be able to read.