Hanoi launches Lifelong Learning Week, promotes reading culture

With the theme of promoting reading culture, Hanoi's Lifelong Learning Week 2024 will have many activities such as organizing book fairs, establishing reading clubs, renovating school libraries...

Students read books in the school library. (Photo: VNA)

On the morning of October 2, at Giang Vo Secondary School, Ba Dinh District, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training held a ceremony to launch the Lifelong Learning Week 2024. With the theme "Developing a reading culture to promote lifelong learning," the week was held from October 1 to 7. Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training Tran The Cuong said that the concepts of "lifelong learning" and "learning society" were announced by UNESCO in April 1996 and recognized by the world as a philosophy of education in the 21st century. Today, this concept is mentioned more and more frequently and is present in most national strategies and policies on education of countries around the world. The policy of building a learning society and creating favorable conditions for all people to study for life has been determined by the Party since the 9th National Congress: "Promote the learning movement among the people through many forms of formal and non-formal education, implement education for everyone, and turn the whole country into a learning society."

Hanoi launches Lifelong Learning Week. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

According to Mr. Cuong, in building a learning society, reading is indispensable. This is a huge treasure of human knowledge passed down over thousands of years, crystallized from knowledge and life. Reading is the best way to absorb the world's culture, the shortest way to approach human civilization. Reading is the best way to promote lifelong learning, thereby successfully building a learning society. With the development of science and technology, reading is no longer limited to paper books, but readers can search for knowledge in e-books. Storage does not necessarily have to be on bulky bookshelves in traditional libraries, but can be stored in cyberspace, easily searched and connected to all countries. However, Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training Tran The Cuong also said that according to a recent survey, only 30% of Vietnamese people read books regularly, 26% do not read books and 44% read books occasionally. The number of books read is about 4 books/year, but of those, more than 3 are textbooks and reference books, meaning that Vietnamese people only read 1 book/year and the time spent reading books by Vietnamese people is about one hour/day, among the lowest in the world. This is a very alarming situation among young people.

Students read books at the launching ceremony. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

Mr. Cuong said that part of the reason is that young people have to spend too much time studying, so their entertainment needs, including reading, are limited. On the other hand, the culture of listening and watching is somewhat overwhelming the culture of reading. Accordingly, the opening ceremony and launching of the Lifelong Learning Response Week 2024 with the theme "Developing a reading culture to promote lifelong learning" was held to raise awareness, enhance responsibility, interest and active participation of authorities at all levels, sectors, organizations, unions and social forces in developing a reading culture to promote lifelong learning. “I call on leaders at all levels, organizations and the whole society to join hands in building a stronger reading culture, promoting the lifelong learning movement, contributing to improving people's knowledge, training human resources, developing talents for the country, for the capital to become more prosperous and develop sustainably,” said the Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training. According to the plan of the Hanoi People's Committee, during the Lifelong Learning Response Week in 2024, many activities will be carried out such as organizing book fairs; establishing reading clubs by topic and age; enhancing school library activities; introducing and replicating typical school library models; mobilizing organizations and individuals to invest in bookcases for schools; organizing classes on reading skills and methods; diversifying library services such as promoting mobile libraries, increasing book rotation between libraries, innovating library activities, etc.

Vietnamplus.vn

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/ha-noi-phat-dong-tuan-le-huong-ung-hoc-tap-suot-doi-thuc-day-van-hoa-doc-post980608.vnp