The education department on Sunday organised a ‘Reading Mela’ at 40 places across the city to ensure the success of its ‘Every Child Can Read Campaign’. The reading fairs were organised in association with School Management Committees (SMCs) at community centres, parks, school grounds and other public places.
“Every child in Delhi should be able to read. That is the mission we have set for ourselves. I am glad that the entire school machinery has been working tirelessly towards this goal. I congratulate SMC members for their selfless service in organising the fair. Education is the pillar on which we have to build the society, which is why our government is committed to providing quality, accessible education to all,” said Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also heads the Education Department.
Sisodia also visited a ‘Reading Mela’ organised in Chander Vihar. He congratulated children, who had recently developed reading skills, and motivated others to work harder.
The fairs were held in areas such as Kondli, Janakpuri, Greater Kailash, Jahangir puri, Maviya Nagar, Patparganj,Narela, Wazirpur and Lajpat Nagar to name a few.
The SMC members of the concerned government schools went door-to-door to generate awareness among masses about the reading campaign and ensure the participation of students and teachers.
A week-long campaign to involve the community in students’ election was conducted by SMCs. Assessment tools were distributed along with details of the Mela, so parents could identify non-reader children.
The Delhi Government had conducted a baseline assessment in July this year, in which it was found that 74 per cent of children enrolled in Class VI were unable to read their grade-level textbooks.
After the report came into light, the government announced that it would begin working on this problem on a mission mode, and children who could not read earlier have made tremendous progress over the last few months.
Reading Melas are one more initiative launched by the AAP government to ensuring that every child in Delhi is be able to read. The Melas will be held every Sunday all over Delhi in community spaces.