Children’s reading habit must be developed early

Children who cannot develop reading habits and skills at a primary stage often struggle to grasp lessons at secondary level, forcing them to drop out, educationists said at a consultation meeting yesterday.

Stressing the need of developing reading habit from early childhood, they urged the government to make textbook lessons of primary schools more interesting, easy to understand and convenient for children.

Room to Read Bangladesh, a non-government organisation, and the Institute of Education and Research (IER) of Dhaka University jointly organised the meeting on strengthening reading skills at Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban at the university campus.

Speakers there also urged teachers to present lessons in such a way so that  children take those eagerly, and suggested parents to  encourage their children to read not just textbooks, but other  books as well.

“Childhood is the ideal time of developing reading habit. Children who develop reading habit in an early stage have better language skills and performance in studies than others,” said Shyamoli Akbar, a professor of IER.

She suggested that textbooks of first to fifth grade should be more interesting and less complex, and lessons be written with easier words and sentences.

Zillur Rahman Siddiki, a director of Room to Read, said students who achieve proper reading skills not only perform better at classrooms but also become more successful in their professional life.

“In our country, many primary school children cannot build proper reading habit due to lack of guidance. They struggle to cope with studies after reaching secondary level. As a result, many of them are forced to discontinue education,” he said.

Speaking as chief guest, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Zakir Hossain assured that they would consider the recommendations placed at the meeting, and take steps in this regard.

The ministry’s Secretary Akram-Al-Hossain, Room to Read Bangladesh Country Director Rakhi Sarkar and IER Director Syeda Tahmina Akhter also spoke at the event, among others.