Stories and reading are an important part of a child’s growth and development. Reading literacy is not only a foundation for achievement in other subject areas within the educational system but also a prerequisite for successful participation in most areas of adult life.
The National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 emphasizes the need and the importance of well-stocked school libraries to attain the goal of foundational literacy and numeracy for all children by the year 2025. It recommends making available quality children's literature to build a culture of reading across the country.
The Central Board of Secondary Education, committed to this goal, intends to promote Reading Literacy among the learners. The Board is partnering with Pratham Books' Story Weaver and Central Square Foundation to launch a two-year CBSE Reading Mission on the 20th of September 2021 at 3:00 pm. In line with recommendations of the NEP 2020, under this mission, the schools and teachers shall have access to a repository of quality English and Hindi children’s storybooks and supplementary resources for Classes I to VIII.
Besides this, the CBSE would be extending the CBSE Reading Challenge (English and Hindi), presently organized for students of classes VIII-X to students of classes VI-VII.
School Heads are requested to attend the program and disseminate the above information amongst teachers to ensure maximum participation.
The Reading Mission will help build a culture of reading and the wholesome development of students by enhancing their vocabulary, deriving connections between stories and their own lives, and exposing them to new ideas. We encourage all schools to participate actively and join CBSE in nurturing the next generation of readers and learners!
