Jharkhand's Comprehensive Education Strategy to Build Reading Culture
In an exclusive interview, Shashi Ranjan, State Project Director at the Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC), detailed the state education department's multi-faceted approach to enhancing literacy and fostering lifelong reading habits among children. The initiative represents a significant investment in educational infrastructure and pedagogical innovation.
Annual Reading Campaign and Record-Breaking Participation
The department's flagship initiative is the annual reading campaign conducted every August and September. This program encourages students to explore literature beyond their standard textbooks through engaging activities including:
- Read-aloud sessions
- Storytelling workshops
- Role-playing exercises
- Dramatic performances
A major highlight of this campaign is the Read-a-Thon, which achieved remarkable success in 2025 with participation from nearly seven lakh students. This extraordinary turnout earned the program national record recognition, demonstrating the widespread enthusiasm for reading across Jharkhand's schools.
Expanding Library Infrastructure and Support Systems
To provide physical spaces dedicated to reading, the education department has established 50 child-friendly libraries in Ranchi and Bokaro districts. Additionally, libraries have been set up in all District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) and at the Jharkhand Council of Educational Research and Training (JCERT) to strengthen literacy support mechanisms.
The department has developed a comprehensive state library manual to guide the uniform expansion of library facilities across districts. This manual provides detailed protocols for:
- Library setup and design
- Book selection criteria
- Effective management practices
Over the past three years, all government schools have received new collections of children's literature, with this distribution initiative continuing into the future. Scalable models like Hazaribag's cluster library system are being implemented alongside growing community participation to build a sustainable reading ecosystem throughout the state.
Institutionalizing Reading Through Policy and Training
To ensure reading becomes an integral part of school culture, the department issued a mandatory directive in 2022 requiring every grade to dedicate at least one library period per week. This policy institutionalizes reading time within the formal school schedule.
Teacher training has been significantly enhanced with dedicated modules on library utilization integrated into state-level Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) training programs. These modules equip educators with the skills necessary to:
- Manage library resources effectively
- Conduct meaningful reading activities
- Foster student engagement with literature
DIETs across multiple districts have further supported this effort through targeted orientations and specialized training sessions for teaching staff.
Balancing Print and Digital Resources
While the department prioritizes print-based reading materials for early grades due to accessibility challenges in rural and tribal areas, digital platforms serve as valuable supplementary resources. Teachers and students can access diverse reading materials through:
- Literacy Cloud digital library
- StoryWeaver platform
- DIKSHA educational portal
- J-Guruji online platform
Capacity-building courses on library management are available through these digital channels, and teachers receive continuous professional development support through both offline and online platforms.
Ensuring Linguistic and Geographic Inclusion
A crucial component of Jharkhand's literacy strategy involves addressing the unique needs of rural and tribal communities. School libraries in these regions often serve as the only dedicated reading spaces available to children. To strengthen access, the department annually supplies children's literature to schools across the state and has developed story-based materials specifically for early grades.
The state has made significant progress in promoting linguistic inclusion by developing children's books in major local languages including:
- Santhali
- Ho
- Mundari
- Khadia
- Kudukh
Ongoing collaborations with teachers aim to develop additional local-language content, ensuring that reading materials are culturally relevant and accessible to all students regardless of their linguistic background.
This comprehensive approach demonstrates Jharkhand's commitment to transforming its educational landscape by making reading an engaging, accessible, and sustainable practice for every child in the state.
