SAPESI Mobile Library Project News: July - December 2013

Hand-over ceremony of 4 Mobile Library and 34,000 books to Free State.
As shown in the photos of page 3 of the newsletter,
Sapesi and Free State Department of Education
organized the hand-over ceremony in Bloemfontein.
In 2014, utilizing 10 buses, Free State will offer libraryservices to their 400 schools, which is over 1/3 of their
non-library schools.
Considering the reality that only 8% of South African
public schools have functional libraries, this Free State
challenge is remarkable.
We thank you, our supporters, especially the Japanese
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and MOL shipping company
for the buses’ donation. Also Sony companies in South
Bloemfontein - 31 October 2013
Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, USA,Canada, UK,
Hong Kong, and Japan, together with K-line shipping company for the global children’s book donation.
Also, in 2014, we are expecting the “new ﬁve provinces” (Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West, NorthernCape, and Eastern Cape) to commence their Mobile Library operation. All nine provinces will then offer
Mobile Library services to their schools.

2013 ANA (Annual National Assessment) test result
The nation-wide test for “read and write” in mother languages, and non-mother language, normally
English, as well as mathematic was conducted in September for all 24,000 public schools. 7 million
learners of grade 1~6, and 9 were tested and the results have beenreleased.

The percentage of the leaners who scored 50% or above:Mother tongue languages English
2012 2013 !
2012 2013G3
56% 57% !
――Mathematics
2012 201336% 59%

G6
G9

112

39
39

6837!
!

2421411727
2

ANA Report 2013

These ﬁgures of G-9, the last year of compulsory education leading the learners to a working society or
higher education, show that South African education is not yet producing a capable future generation ofSouth Africans, but is rather sowing the seeds of future social instability as most of them would not getjobs with these low basic capabilities when they reach the core age of the society.

Japanese Mathematic kits
In the old days, Japanese children learnt numbers with an abacus, moving the beads on the abacus with
their ﬁngers.
This makes a lot of sense since the ﬁnger movements stimulate children’s braindevelopment including numbers, before they start to understand numbers abstractly.
Currently, in the time of calculators and computers, Japanese learners of grade 1~2, use a “mathematic
toys kit” instead of abacus.
In South Africa, we observe proactive teachers use the bottle tops and ice-candy sticks to let children
count, meanwhile some teachers in the Foundation Phase who did not receive the the right mathematics
teaching training, specially during Homeland education, are battling.
With the idea that Japanese mathematic toys kit might be able to contribute to the solving of theproblem, Sapesi-Japan recently sent us approximately 100 sets of Japanese mathematic toy kits.
We would like to pursue the possibility to develop its South African version with the people who areinterested in the project.

Coke bottle tops - math toys
Mathematics toy kit

Mr. Nelson Mandela
In May and July 2000, I had the honour to visit Mr. Mandela in his Houghton home and had interesting
one-on-one conversations which ranged from his trip to Japan, the value and importance of education,and his thoughts on children and their education.
I am sure that the conversations with him could be one of the reasons why I started the Mobile Library
Project for South African children after my retirement from Sony in 2004.
May his soul rest in peace.
We wish you blessed festive season, and a happy new year.
Tad, Tadashi Hasunuma
DIRECTOR: SAPESIReaders to Leaders Luncheon: Bloemfontein 31 October 2013
Donation of 4 Mobile Library buses from Japan and 34,000 books from Sony in New Zealand, Australia,
Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, UK, Canada, USA.

Mobile Library

MC Ms. Zonia Alexander,

Project background
Mr. T. Hasunuma: SAPESI

Learners from Motheo Districtreading from books

Global Sony Companies Book Collection Mr.
N. Kinoshita MD Sony South Africa

Japanese Ambassador
Mr. Y. Yoshizawa

Donated books

Mrs E Sisulu: Chair Book
Development Foundation; PUKUFree State MEC: Education,
Mr. P.H.I. Makgoe

Hand-over of Bus Key - Mr. Hasunuma, Books - Mr. Kinoshita,
Generators - Mr. Clinton Lambert, Honda Southern Africa