Wednesday, May 04, 2016
Abu Dhabi: The launch of the 10-year National Policy for Reading 2016-2026 aims to increase publishing footprint of the UAE.
Officials at the launch have revealed plans to make the publishing process in the UAE simpler and more cost effective in a bid to raise the number of UAE-based publications from 400 to 4,000.
Speaking at the launch of the National Policy at the ongoing Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF), Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State said that the aim of the policy is to make reading part of UAE citizens’ national identity.
“Parents have complained about the difficulties [in] finding books for their children to read. Therefore, we will put in mechanisms to categorise Arabic children’s books by age and content while we continue to build on what we have learned from developed countries,” he said.
Public library branches will open at popular shopping centres as these locations witness more foot fall, the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development announced.
As of this year, a Month of Reading will be identified which will celebrate knowledge through festivals and author-focused events.
Hussain Al Hammadi, Minister of Education, focused on the the role educators can play in encouraging children to develop the habit of reading.
“Educators play a pivotal role in motivating their students to read and so we will create an optional reading programme that encourages students to pick an age-appropriate book of choice to pursue over the holidays. The classroom can then be transformed into an environment for them to discuss what they have read with their teachers,” said the minister. And when the weather permits, this discussion classroom can be moved to the outdoors, he added.
“Additionally, school assessments will become more focused on how facilities promote reading among their students. Under the e’dad (meaning preparation) training programme, educators will receive training on motivating their students to read,” he added.
Furthermore, digitalisation of books, said Mohammad Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future, will help lower book prices.
Nada AlTaher, Staff Reporter
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