UAE scores high with Arab Reading Challenge paper
Date
9/17/2015 1:20:04 AM
(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM))
ABU DHABI 17th September 2015 (WAM) -- Books shape an individual's mind and wield tremendous power to transform lives for the better. The power and value of the habit of reading should never ever be underestimated commented a UAE daily.
Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has explained it best by saying: "Reading opens minds magnifies hunger for knowledge and instills the values of openness and moderation that define great civilisations."
"The "Arab Reading Challenge" the largest Arab project launched to encourage students in the Arab world to read is an outstanding mission that is bound to leave a deep and positive imprint on the minds of students" said The Gulf Today in an editorial on Thursday.
The noble aim is to encourage reading on a continuous basis through a comprehensive system of incentives and follow-up mechanisms throughout the academic year. In fact the project will inspire one million children each to read 50 books outside the school curriculum in a year.
Rewards boost one's enthusiasm and ignites a challenging spirit. Thus it is good to note that the Arab Reading Challenge will give out more than $3m in rewards to students their families teachers with the top school receiving $1m.
As Sheikh Mohammed himself perfectly explained "The Arab world is suffering from a reading crisis whose consequences we see and feel every day in this region. The 50 million book challenge is the first of many steps we are taking in the hope of creating a long-term impact that would change this reality."
Talk of reading habits and it is disappointing to note that the trends have not been very positive. The Arab Thought Foundation's Arab Report for Cultural Development has indicated that the average reading time for an Arab child is six minutes a year compared with 12000 minutes in the West.
"The reading rate of an Arab individual is a quarter of a page a year compared with 11 books in the US and seven books in the UK according to a study conducted by the Supreme Council of Culture in Egypt" added the daily.
Promoting books helps fight ignorance and build sustainable societies that eventually strengthen the foundations of peace.The goal of the leadership is to create a new generation a new hope and a new reality.
"And it is this kind of vision and mission that has pushed the UAE far ahead of others in the region and got the country the highest marks on multiple fronts" concluded the Sharjah-based daily.
WAM/Esraa