Caring for “Our Shared Textbooks” Textbook Repair Activities at Popondetta Primary School

At Popondetta Primary School in Oro Province, JICA Volunteer Mr. Kitayama has been working together with students and teachers to promote the careful and long-term use of these textbooks. This article introduces a textbook repair activity carried out at the school.

Students Repairing Their Own Learning Resources
To encourage students to value their textbooks, a repair activity was conducted together with 35 Grade 6 students. The students worked in small groups, with each group repairing four to five textbooks.

At the beginning of the activity, students compared new textbooks with those that had been used for many years. Seeing the difference surprised many of them and helped them realize how much these books had been used for learning.

During the activity, students used cardboard and tape to reinforce torn covers and rebuild damaged spines. Although the work required careful attention, the students worked seriously and cooperatively to repair the books.

Growing Awareness Across the School
This activity has also influenced teachers’ awareness. At the school, which has 24 teachers, many have begun to handle textbooks more carefully.
For example, textbooks are now numbered so that it is clear which students are using each book. This simple step has helped students develop a stronger sense of responsibility for the textbooks they use.
The school is also considering establishing a system to regularly check the condition of textbooks and carry out repairs when needed with the students in each class.

Supporting Teaching and Learning with Textbooks
The mathematics and science textbooks developed with JICA’s support include many diagrams and illustrations, making them easier for students to understand visually. They are also designed to encourage students to think and learn independently.

At Popondetta Primary School, two JICA volunteers are supporting the use of these textbooks by conducting in-service training for teachers on how to use them effectively and by strengthening textbook management practices. Efforts are also being made to confirm textbook stock and distribute available books so that more classrooms can make full use of them.
As a result, the learning environment where textbooks are actively used in lessons is gradually improving.

For the Learning of Future Students
Taking care of textbooks may seem like a small action, but it plays an important role in supporting students’ learning and improving the educational environment of the whole school.

Through this activity, students and teachers have begun to recognize that textbooks are shared learning resources that should be cared for and passed on to future students.