1. As employees of the Western Cape Education Department we all wish to develop a culture of reading in our schools and communities. Principals are therefore encouraged to use the opportunity of Cape Town’s first ever international book fair to promote reading among our young people, their teachers and their parents.
2. The Cape Town Book Fair is to be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. It will attract thousands of visitors to a breathtaking variety of exhibitions and events with both local and exotic flavours. There is no doubt that this fair will make a deep impression on young minds and that it will also inspire teachers through presentations on topics ranging from popularising reading to making books more accessible to all. High-profile local and overseas authors, as well as ‘new voices’, will be present at this event. The international mix of tourists, business people, children, librarians and members of the public will make this an unforgettable literary occasion.
3. The fair will be open from 09:00 to 17:00 daily, from Saturday, 17 June to Tuesday, 20 June. The entrance fee is R30.00 for adults and R10.00 for schoolgoers and pensioners. Details of specific events will appear in the media and also on the following website: http://www.capetownbookfair.com. For further information please contact the book fair office at telephone number 021 422 5004. The programme is attached.
4. Principals are urged to use this event to promote literacy by encouraging members of their schools and communities to attend the fair. This is an excellent opportunity to draw attention to reading as the foundation for learning.


SIGNED: J.P. RAULT-SMITH
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2006:06:13

Programme  (size: 28 KB)