In a significant move to enhance general awareness and linguistic abilities among students, the Rajasthan government has introduced a compulsory daily newspaper reading session across all its state-run schools. The initiative mandates a dedicated 10-minute period during the morning assembly for students to engage with national, international, and sports news.
Detailed Guidelines for Implementation
The directive, issued by School Education Department Secretary Krishna Kunal, outlines specific requirements for newspaper procurement. Each higher secondary school must subscribe to at least two newspapers—one in English and one in Hindi. For government higher primary schools, the order stipulates two Hindi newspapers. Furthermore, English-medium government schools are required to have a minimum of one English and one Hindi newspaper each.
The reading sessions will focus on editorials, major national and international developments, and sports reports. To systematically build vocabulary, the guidelines also state that five new words along with their meanings will be introduced to students every day.
Student Involvement and Special Activities
Responsibility for leading these reading sessions has been assigned to students from classes 6 to 12. Those chosen to read the news must arrive at school 30 minutes early to prepare. The initiative also integrates with 'No Bag Day' activities, where mass gatherings will be organized to discuss various government schemes and policies, fostering a deeper understanding of governance.
Expected Outcomes and Official Statements
Education Department officials believe this step will cultivate a regular reading habit, increase interest in current events, and expand students' general knowledge. They emphasized that the initiative is designed to positively improve language proficiency, expression skills, and social awareness, thereby aiding students in competitive exam preparation.
Secretary Krishna Kunal stated that the program is a crucial effort towards shaping students into informed, thoughtful, and self-confident citizens. By embedding newspaper reading into the daily school routine, the Rajasthan government aims to bridge the gap between academic curriculum and real-world happenings, preparing a more engaged future generation.
