“We are emphasizing the importance of reading among our children also through this initiative, the National Reading, today in its seventh edition. Through it we are not only encouraging more children to read more, but we are also instilling in them a noble gesture to help other children like them.” This is what the Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation Clifton Grima said when together with President Emeritus Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, Chairperson of The Malta Trust Foundation, they addressed the closing of the – this year’s edition.
This project aims to encourage and foster a love for reading, together with the promotion of literacy while instilling in children the values of solidarity and social justice. The income from this initiative goes to buy equipment and therefore supports another group of children who are in need.
Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca said that, “the National Library is showing hundreds of children that reading is not only necessary for their intellectual and creative development, but is also fun. The Malta Trust Foundation and the Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society will continue to collaborate with the National Literacy Agency, so that more children read, in order to strengthen their holistic well-being.”
Minister Clifton Grima said that as a government, a lot of work is being done to ensure that the best possible opportunities are given to the students also linked to the emerging times. This is explained in detail in the National Strategy for Education 2024-2030, which also looks at strengthening the educational processes of every child. “In the Strategy, reading is an important aspect to strengthen one’s educational path,” said Minister Clifton Grima.
Since this National Qaritona has been held, a little less than 25,000 students have participated. The National Reading is organized in collaboration between The Malta Trust Foundation together with The Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society and the National Literacy Agency, with financial support from Malta Public Transport, with the participation of schools primaries all over Malta.
The celebration of the closing of the National Qaritona took place at Mosta Primary School, and during it a group of students staged a dramatic animation, and a trophy was also presented to the schools that participated in the National Qaritona.
Photo: MEYR
