Reading Campaign has shown encouraging results: Sisodia

The Reading Campaign, an ambitious initiative of Delhi government, has shown "encouraging results" with about one lakh students of classes 6th, 7th and 8th now being able to read their textbooks easily.
The department today made public results of the campaign according to which reading data of students of Class VI, VI and VIII has increased up to - 46 per cent, 64 per cent and 68 per cent - from the earlier 25 per cent, 52 per cent and 55 per cent respectively.
Under the campaign, out of the total 6,32,370 children enrolled in classes 6 to 8 of government schools, the Reading Campaign focused on 3,59,152 i.E. 57 per cent of the total enrolled children.

These children were between beginners to story level and needed some kind of support and focus to read an advanced story.
The classes were held on every Sunday under 'Reading Campaign' run from September 4 to November 14.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that the campaign has shown encouraging results, adding that in 30 working days, a number of children were able to read their textbooks, an increase by 20 per cent.

"When we started 32% children of Class 6, could not read even a simple paragraph of Std 1 level, it is now reduced to only 14 per cent. In September, 8% children could not identify even letters in Hindi; this is now reduced to only 2%.

"If so much change can take place in 30 teaching days, I'm sure we can transform quality of education in govt schools within one year (sic)," Sisodia, who also holds education portfolio, said in a series of tweets.
Sisodia said the Delhi government has initiated talks with MCDs to take this reading campaign to primary classes in MCD schools. He has written to all three MCD commissioners in this regard.
A senior government official said that the campaign focused on all children of classes 6 to 8 of the Directorate of Education, who could not read their textbooks.
The target group for the Campaign was determined on the basis of Reading Assessment conducted of all enrolled children of class 6 and those children of classes 7 and 8 who have scored less than 33 per cent marks in the combined Summative Assessment of previous classes.

Among the children who were targeted in the campaign, 30 per cent of class 6, 28 per cent of class 7 and 32 per cent of class 8 have learnt to read advance stories.