Today, the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation, with the participation of the National Literacy Agency launched the initiative ‘Children’s Friends Books’ in Tas-Sliema primary school, Santa Clara College. This initiative was promised in the Malta Together Electoral Manifesto, with the aim of sending another strong message in favor of reading.
Through this initiative, the love of books continues to be fostered in children from a young age. For this purpose, a set of books will be distributed every year to all primary level children, so that they can build a small library at home.
During the launch of the initiative, the Minister for Education Clifton Grima emphasized the message about the importance of reading. “It is our main mission as Government to see that every form of education reaches everyone. An integral part of education is reading, which not only increases knowledge, but opens new horizons to every student”, said Minister Grima.
At the launch there was a presentation of the reading books that were carefully selected to be distributed to the children with the aim of continuing to foster the love for literature. The donation of two books in Maltese and two in English is being made so that the children are encouraged to equip their personal library. In total, it is believed that during this school year 55,364 books in Maltese and English will be given to 13,841 students from the first to the third year of primary school.
The Government is committed to continue fostering a culture of reading and intellectual curiosity among children. By reading, children roam in a world full of information and imagination. This initiative paves the way for a literary journey, a journey that is expected to have a strong impact on the intellectual and imaginative development of the students who will receive the books.