Society has become too exam-centric
Nurturing reading habit of students can help change the society and end the “unhealthy competition” for grades, which is robbing them of their childhood, said speakers yesterday.
They also urged guardians not to force students to run after better academic achievements, rather encourage them to love learning and develop the ability to learn new things.
The speakers said this at a prize distribution ceremony of Bishwo Shahitto Kendro’s book reading initiative at Bangla Academy.
“Nowadays many parents do not allow children to do anything other than chasing high grades,” said former cultural affairs minister Asaduzzaman Noor.
The noted cultural personality said the society has become too exam-centric. “But it [better grades] should not be the only target. Cultural activities like reading, singing, dancing, poetry recitation and debate will help you [students] become good persons,” he said.
“Many schools do not engage in cultural practices. Some do not even practice singing the national anthem,” said Noor, also a lawmaker.
BSK founder Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed said there should be more initiatives like reading programmes to motivate students, as one can discover life, freedom and light through reading.
He urged students to read books regularly to become enlightened. “Grow up… be graceful… and the country will become beautiful,” he added.
Former bureaucrat and BSK trustee Aminul Islam said this book reading programme is a movement that will help boost positivity among students.
BSK yesterday awarded 580 students of 21 schools and colleges of Dhaka under the programme.
The awardees were selected in four categories -- whoever finished reading six books were placed under the category of “Shagoto”, eight books under “Shubhechchha”, 10 under “Abhinandan”, and 12 under “Shera Pathok”.
They were selected through an evaluation test after reading books in 2018-19, and awarded books and certificates.
BSK has been conducting the book reading programme for 40 years.
At present, almost 24 lakh students from 14,000 schools and 500 colleges of the country are included in the reading programme.
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