Link for Resolution |
Analysis
Students in the city and surrounding areas can leave their school
bags at home next Thursday , when schools across the state will observe Vaachan
Prerna Diwas or Reading Day as per a government order.
The
decision to celebrate October 15, the birth anniversary of former President of
India A P J Abdul Kalam, as Vaachan Prerna Diwas in schools across the state
was made by school education minister Vinod Tawde soon after Kalam's death on
July 27. In a government resolution issued on Wednesday , the state asked all
students from Class III to VIII to read non-academic books in school, and
instructed schools to host book exhibitions, implement gift-a-book programmes,
introduce students to well-known authors from around the world, and hold
discussions on books. The government has said that almost Rs 6 lakh is
available for the programme.
Going a
step further, the office of the deputy director has asked schools in the Mumbai
region to also allow students to leave their bags home on the day . “Kalam's
writings are an in spiration to students and youth. These activities will help
students develop an interest for reading, which is sorely lacking. So we
created the `school without bags' plan for that day,“ said B B Chavan, deputy
director, Mumbai region. Suggested activities for schools in Mumbai include
inviting authors, literature and other subject experts, reading a book that is
not a school textbook and teaching students how to read out loud. “There should
be no kind of pressures in class this day and a positive environment should be
created. This way , students can read what they like and have fun doing it.
Only then will the programme be a success,“ said the circular issued by Chavan.
Schools
have also been advised to dedicate time on a specific day every month for
reading, host book fairs, organize meets for teachers and keep the school
library updated. They should also award students and teachers who read the
maximum number of books.
However,
with exams just round the corner, schools are not sure if they can have activities
throughout the day .“Our oral and practical exams begin next week, so we might
not be able to dedicate the entire day for these activities. We will, may be,
conduct them for some time during the day . The idea of celebra ting such days
is school is great,“ said Freny Mehta, principal, Alexandra Girls' Institution,
Fort.
Chavan
said the plan is not rigid and schools can make adjustments as required.
Last
year, all schools in the city's south zone marked November 21as No-Textbook Day
. A brainchild of Chavan, schools had hosted various activities such as book
reading sessions, interactions with authors, newspaper reading and making and
book review discussions during school hours. There was participation of more
than 430 schools.
Suggested
Timetable
Period 1 |
Importance of the Programme
Period 2 |
Invite an author, artist, actor or other Subject experts
Period 3 | Teach Students
techniques to read out in class or in public
Period 4,
5 | Students must carry to school a book of their choice and read out
Period 6,
7, 8 | Students
must read the books
Period 9 |
Feedback Time
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