Solve the crisis in national libraries

Due to the ongoing teachers strike that has lasted three weeks, students have been left at a loose end as their normal programme has been interrupted.

Most of them have thus taken this time to study on their own. Therefore, there has been a lot of scrambling for space in the national libraries within the country. This has led to inadequacy of reading materials and space for learners.

The crisis has been worsened by the fact that the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education candidates are rushing against time to revise for their final examinations. Therefore, the number of learners has increased compared to those days when learning in schools is ongoing. Students visiting the facilities are forced to scramble for the few sitting slots.

Most of them are forced to wake up very early and rush to book study tables and seats. They are thus wasting a lot of time that could have been utilised well to revise for examinations.

The swelling numbers means reading materials are also not enough. In some libraries, some students are forced to pick reading materials and study from outside. Without doubt, this is another crisis facing our country. In future, national libraries should be expanded to accommodate as many students as possible.