Children and young people read less than they used to. The government is currently working on a strategy to get more people to read more, and it needs input in this work.
Reading is one of the most important activities we undertake in life. Reading is important for our education, for education and for democratic participation. And above all, books take us to new worlds and give us a new perspective on ourselves and society. Therefore, the government will now work to arouse interest in reading and build a good reading culture in which everyone can find a place, says Minister of Culture and Equal Opportunities Anette Trettebergstuen.
She and Education Minister Tonje Brenna are collaborating on their own strategy to encourage reading. The goal is to increase the number of people reading.
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– The challenge is that it's Norwegian children and youth they read less and less. They read less as they grow up, and boys read less than girls. One of the most important goals of this strategy will be to help children maintain the pleasure of reading throughout their youth and throughout their school years, says Minister of Knowledge Tonje Brenna.
Declining reading skills
The 2018 PISA study shows that 15-year-olds spend less time reading in their spare time than before. 68 percent of boys and 48 percent of girls say they only read when they have to.
PISA also clearly showed the decline in Norwegian pupils' reading skills. About one in five Norwegian students is below the lower limit needed by students to continue studying and working.
- In a common school, every student will have the opportunity to become a good reader. Reading skills are important for children and young people here and now, for further education and for participation in professional and social life. We want feedback from those who work well with reading on how we can create even more reading enjoyment. For example, many schools, teachers, and school librarians do a good job with reading, says Brenna.
How to arouse interest in reading?
The government now wants to hear views on what is needed to create a culture of reading and what can help stimulate interest in reading.
In May, representatives of kindergartens and schools, libraries, reading organizations, the book industry as well as scientists dealing with reading are invited to the meetings. Written comments are also welcome. This will provide an important knowledge base for further work on the strategy.
“Many work every day to spread literature and promote the love of reading, doing a great job. In the strategy, we will raise and develop all good works, so that together we can create a good reading culture in the future, says the Minister of Culture and Equality.
The government has increased the subsidy program for school libraries to 2023 in 25 million NOK, with priority given to areas that are vulnerable to living conditions.
– Before Easter, we submitted a draft of a new law on books. We've also increased support for reading organizations, strengthened non-fiction purchase arrangements, and will bolster the library field with more games. All this because we know how important literature and reading are for democracy, freedom of expression, and for each of us, says Trettebergstuen.
Reading is important for many reasons:
- It develops cognitive skills. Reading develops cognitive processes such as abstract thinking, critical thinking, problem solving, concentration and memory.
- Improves language skills. Reading increases your vocabulary and improves your ability to write, speak and communicate.
- Expands knowledge. Reading allows you to gain new knowledge and information on a variety of topics, which can help you develop personally and professionally.
- Improves social skills. Reading helps you understand and empathize with other people, which can help you build better interpersonal relationships.
- Improves mental health. Reading can help reduce stress, increase positive emotions, and improve your well-being.
- Develops imagination and creativity. Reading stimulates the imagination, develops creativity and helps in artistic and literary development.
- It improves the quality of life. Reading can be an enjoyable pastime that helps you escape from everyday problems and provides a relaxing pastime.
In short, reading is important because it develops cognitive skills, improves language skills, broadens knowledge. Reading also improves social skills, improves mental health, develops imagination and creativity, and improves quality of life.
We all know that: What the shell absorbs when it is young, it smells when it is old.
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Source: regjeringen
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