Filling the gap in reading culture.

Despite the annual promotion of reading and the organization of Vietnam's Book and Reading Culture Day, the habit of reading in the community has not yet truly spread widely. Many young people view reading as a secondary option, rather than an essential need in their spiritual lives.

This situation shows that the reading culture of Vietnamese people is currently at the level of a movement, lacking depth and a sustainable foundation - a major challenge on the journey to building a learning society and developing knowledge.

The situation is alarming.

In 2024, according to publishing industry data, book sales reached 597.2 million copies per 101.11 million people, a decrease to 5.91 books per person. Notably, textbooks accounted for 77.35% of the total, meaning only 22.65% were other types of books. 461.93 million textbooks are essentially learning tools and materials. The remaining 135.27 million books are related to reading culture, equivalent to 1.3 books per person, accurately reflecting the reading level and habits of Vietnamese people.

Reading lessons should be made a core subject in schools.

Based on the above figures, Mr. Le Hoang – former Vice President of the Vietnam Publishers Association – argues that these numbers vividly demonstrate that the reading culture of Vietnamese people is very low compared to the reading levels of some countries in Southeast Asia in particular, and Asia as well as developed countries in general, where they have reached a reading level of over 10 books per person per year. The reason for this weakness in our reading culture is that our people do not have a habit of reading books. A habit that must be formed in the family and school environment from a young age.

In schools, reading culture is not yet considered a regular educational activity. Libraries in many places are poor and rarely updated, while students mainly access textbooks and exam preparation materials. In many families, bookshelves are gradually disappearing, giving way to electronic devices. This is partly due to the explosion of digital technology, which makes people easily swept up in a fast-paced, concise, and image-rich flow of information rather than written text. Another part stems from the education system itself, where reading is not guided or encouraged, but is often considered a mandatory task.

Dr. Pham Viet Long, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dan Tri Publishing House, believes that the reading culture has not been strongly developed and deeply ingrained in people's daily lives. Along with this, the rapid development of technology and modern entertainment media creates competition, reducing the time and attention devoted to reading. Furthermore, access to books, especially in rural areas, remains limited due to a lack of infrastructure. This reflects a significant challenge in forming and maintaining a reading culture.

Making reading a habit

In a knowledge-based society, reading is not only a cultural activity but also a fundamental skill that enables lifelong learning. Reading helps people think independently, enhances critical thinking skills, and enriches their life experiences. A nation with a strong reading culture is a nation with a solid foundation of knowledge. Therefore, fostering a love of reading, especially among young people, should be considered a long-term task.

Many experts suggest that reading culture should be integrated into schools through flexible methods – such as free reading time, reading comprehension projects, or book review writing competitions. Simultaneously, publishers and authors need to innovate in content and format to create engaging books that resonate with the modern reader. In the digital age, the application of technology such as e-books, audiobooks, and online reading spaces is also a necessary direction, as long as the core value of reading is preserved: contemplation and connecting people with knowledge.

Regarding this issue, according to Mr. Le Hoang, it is necessary to establish reading lessons in the official curriculum. Because in the current family environment, not all parents have the time or the awareness to accompany their children in reading. Therefore, schools need to be places that systematically and sustainably inspire and maintain this love of reading. If students regularly include reading in their regular school schedule, their reading experience will not be limited by textbooks or exam-heavy assignments. This helps children see that reading is not only for learning but also for living, for understanding themselves and others.

In addition, Mr. Hoang suggested that investment in infrastructure and funding is needed to provide sufficient information and book resources in general science libraries, especially the library systems of schools at all levels and universities. He also proposed adding a new provision on developing a reading culture to the amended Publishing Law in the near future.

Meanwhile, Master Nguyen Huu Gioi - President of the Vietnam Library Association - believes that a market research strategy is needed to plan the publication of good books that meet the needs and tastes of readers. The quality of the content of publications needs special attention. Research is also needed to develop more e-books and audiobooks to serve the people in the context of the fourth industrial revolution. It is necessary to strengthen the acquisition of books, newspapers, and information resources, building increasingly rich archives with the motto of closely following readers' needs, promptly adding valuable documents and digital collections that have a positive impact on economic , cultural, and social development, and poverty reduction in localities.

daidoanket.vn

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/lap-day-khoang-trong-van-hoa-doc-post885121.html