Hanoi: Cultivating a reading culture in schools.

Many schools in Hanoi have identified reading culture as an important component of comprehensive education. Cultivating a reading habit in students not only helps them accumulate knowledge but also enriches their life experiences, critical thinking skills, and ability to shape their future.

Creating a friendly reading space.

Schools play a crucial role in nurturing and spreading a love of reading among students. Beyond simply building libraries, many schools focus on creating an open and convenient reading environment where students can regularly access books, thereby fostering a sustainable reading habit.

Open library corners at Cau Giay Secondary School - where students can freely read their favorite books. Photo: CG

At Cau Giay Secondary School, the library and reading culture are considered an important part of the goal of holistic education . According to Ms. Le Thi Loan, the school's librarian, the library currently has over 20,000 books in a wide variety of genres such as comics, children's books, science books, history books, life skills books, and foreign language books. This diversity of content provides students with more choices suitable to their age and interests.

Notably, the school doesn't limit reading to the traditional library. Many reading areas are designed as "open libraries," accessible to students at any time, even when the main library is closed. These reading corners are located on the first floor and in various convenient locations throughout the school, allowing students easy access to books during breaks or self-study time.

Alongside investing in facilities, the school also regularly organizes reading promotion activities such as book festivals, new book introductions, storytelling competitions based on books, drawing illustrations of literary characters, and author meet-and-greets. Through these activities, reading becomes more accessible and engaging for students, rather than being a mandatory activity.

Similarly, Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for Gifted Students also focuses on building a diverse reading environment to spark students' interest in reading. For many years, the school has built open reading spaces with full amenities to create conditions for students to read books anytime, anywhere.

In addition to the main library, the school utilizes various spaces on campus to create open libraries, such as the green space in front of building A, a book cafe, or a knowledge avenue. These creative and open spaces help eliminate feelings of confinement and pressure, thereby encouraging students to proactively engage with books.

Meanwhile, Hoang Mai Star Primary, Secondary, and High School has chosen an approach that integrates reading culture with the development of school culture – a “soft power” for students. The school collaborates with experts to guide students in systematic reading and comprehension techniques. Each classroom has its own small library to facilitate students' exchange and sharing of books. In particular, students are trained in writing skills from primary school and in English writing at the secondary level to develop critical thinking and the ability to express personal ideas, avoiding rote memorization or reliance on model essays.

Diverse solutions for promoting a reading culture.

To encourage students to love books and be more proactive in reading, many schools have implemented diverse and flexible solutions.

At Cau Giay Secondary School, the "Optional Reading Club" for 6th and 7th grade students is maintained with two sessions per week. During these sessions, students are guided to read and explore books on specific topics, and some sessions are even conducted entirely in English to develop their foreign language reading comprehension skills.

Subject teachers also participate in guiding students' reading by introducing a list of works suitable for each learning topic. To monitor and improve reading effectiveness, many teachers require students to write book reviews or feedback forms as a form of evaluation.

Students from Hoang Mai Star Primary, Secondary, and High School are enthusiastic at the Book Exchange Day. Photo: NSHM

Library management in many schools has also been modernized and made more convenient. Students can borrow books using their personal identification numbers without needing library cards. After reading, they are guided to tidy up the books themselves, thereby enhancing their awareness of preserving shared property.

In addition, the library regularly surveys the needs of teachers and students to add suitable, high-quality books to its annual procurement catalog. Selecting books that closely match actual needs makes the library more attractive to students.

According to education experts, schools play a particularly important role in shaping reading habits because students spend most of their time at school. To foster a love of reading among students, library staff need to be not only book managers but also professionals with dedication and the ability to inspire students to read. Some suggest integrating reading activities into experiential learning or career guidance sessions within the 2018 General Education Program to create a consistent approach to developing a reading culture.

At Hoang Mai Star Primary, Secondary, and High School, the reading culture project at the primary level has had a positive impact, with 100% of classrooms now having mini-libraries combined with e-book collections. According to school statistics, each student reads an average of 11 books per year. Beyond reading, students also participate in many creative activities such as designing book covers, undertaking personal projects, and presenting their reading experiences. Notably, the school had 48 students who won the "Reading King" title in the 2026 national "Reading Enthusiast" competition. This is considered a clear result of the school's efforts to build a reading culture.

With the rapid development of social media and digital content platforms, maintaining and promoting a reading culture in schools has become increasingly essential. A reading culture not only contributes to improving the quality of education but also helps students develop character, cultivate compassion, and foster a sense of responsibility towards the community.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/ha-noi-gieo-mam-van-hoa-doc-trong-nha-truong-783309.html