New Delhi: Delhi govt schools will now need to carve out 30 minutes on all school days for a reading period. No timetable adjustment or replacement of a period is allowed.Officials in the department of education (DoE) said the initiative is aimed at reviving regular reading among students when reading habits are being overshadowed by other forms of engagement. A year-long plan of library-based activity has been laid out for schools. The programme extends beyond the classroom as well, calling for family reading weeks twice a year.This is as per a DoE circular issued under the Samagra Shiksha-Delhi programme, which lays out a year-long plan of library-based activities for schools.The directions say the reading period should be used for silent reading, book discussions and related activities, while schools have also been asked to introduce a 10–15 minute “drop everything and read” session every day.Schools have been given a broad calendar of activities to keep students engaged in through the year. These include weekly library periods, read-aloud sessions, book talks, etc. A reading wall is also proposed, where students can display book reviews, quotations, illustrations and recommendations.Family reading weeks twice a year, an annual reading festival, maintenance of a reading passport, recording students’ reading, book donation drives and regular newspaper reading and discussion sessions are planned.The DoE has directed schools to make their libraries more accessible and inviting. At least 20 books per student should be available in the library, it said. The circular places responsibility across the school system. It also calls for monthly monitoring and recording of reading activities, with a reading engagement report to be submitted.
