To inculcate reading habit, Navi Mumbai schools to get libraries

Each library will be painted in bright colours and will house over 1,000 books on various topics in English and Marathi; the library will be open for students from standards I to VIII

IN AN attempt to make municipal schools more engaging for students, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation ( NMMC) has started launching special libraries across its municipalschools recently. The civic body has decided to keep a dedicated room for such libraries, that would house over 1,000 books on various topics including comics for the children to read.

Officials revealed that they want to make their schools more attractive for students in terms of non- academic activities.

By introducing libraries they want to inculcate the habit of reading among their students, officials added.

City Mayor Sudhakar Sonawane said, “ Children do not have the habit of reading and hence by introducing the libraries we wish to inculcate the habit of reading good books among the municipal students. Further, the walls of the library will be painted attractively colourful so that students don’t feel bored sitting inside plain coloured walls.” Initially, the civic body is introducing such libraries across 40 municipal schools across its jurisdiction. Each library would have over 1,000 books including novels and comic books in both English and Marathi languages. The library will be open for students from standard one to eight.

“Once in every week we have a 30- minute session where we are given books to read from the library. They are available in two languages and are interesting to read,” said a standard fifth student from a municipal school in Vashi.

Amrish Patnigere, Deputy Municipal Commissioner, Education, said, “ If students have the habit of reading books, they will automatically get an interest to pursue higher studies. It is just the matter of inculcating the habit of reading among them.”

Source | Mid Day | 20 August 2015