Survey finds poor reading habit among children Friday, 06 January 2012 02:51

by MOHAMMAD SHOEB

DOHA: Over 30 percent of Qatari children say they don’t have time to read, while 26 percent complain about not having access to books of their interest, said a survey conducted by Childhood Cultural Centre.

Sixteen percent of the respondents did not find any compelling reason to read, while 15 percent faced problem selecting the right books to read. While a similar percentage of children had problem with the language. They found the language tough for their level.

The survey found that out of the small number who take interest in reading, majority (two-third) preferred fiction and books on adventure, while the rest liked reading books on religion and poetry.

In response to the alarmingly poor reading habit, the Childhood Cultural Centre has launched an ambitious project under the title “Maktabati” which aims to inculcate reading habit among children in Qatar.

“Inculcating reading habit among children is the only way through which we can develop knowledge and skill among them. Grooming their over all personality is very important for the country so that they can face the global challenges in the future,” said Hannan Al Hail, Project manager at the Childhood Cultural Centre.

The project manager of a similar campaign – “Book Club” – Abdullah Hamid Al Mulla recently said that children in Qatar read almost nothing outside their syllabus while children in the US and the UK read 11 and 8 books a year respectively.

He further added: “We are a nation that does not read.”

According to some experts the number of books published in the Arab world is a lowly eight for every 12,000 children.

“Maktabati” targets children in the age group of 6-18 years and aimed at expanding their perceptions, as well as creating a reading culture.

Statistics show that most Arabs do not read more than six minutes per year and children do not visit libraries or book clubs. So, the centre has decided to reach out to children in schools, libraries or wherever they are.

Several studies and direct experiences suggest that children spend most of their time in playing electronic games, gadgets and gizmos and take least interest in reading books.

Abu Saad Ahmad, father of a 12-year-old son, who is very found of games and electronic gadgets said: “If you want your children to get rid of the electronic gizmos, then you must inculcate reading habits among them. This I have developed in my son by providing him with interesting story books taking him to good libraries and allowing him to mix up with other peer groups in my locality so that he switch over outdoor games.”

Hannan commented that “our Arab culture does not give much importance in presenting books as gifts to our children. We should do what we want our children to imitate.” The libraries should have more children specific and attractive books and that should be followed by every library here in Qatar added he.

He lamented that the book shops and libraries in Qatar have more games related stuffs in the children section rather than interesting story books in Arabic and literature in other languages. And unfortunately sometimes the parents also don’t know what kind of books they should buy for their children belonging to different age group.

However, he praised the success of the “Maktabati” project and said that through this program we have been able to associate children with books and provided them several incentives to facilitate their reading habits.

This is a successful programme which is able to address the children’s needs in a much more scientific way than before. So far over 7,500 children have visited the Childhood Culture Centre and most of them are between the age group of 6-12.

The Peninsula

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