Reading is measured by minds, not by books

The Minister of Education, Sarah bint Youssef Al Amiri, affirmed that building societies begins with building human beings, and that the true starting point for this building is language and word, as they are the foundation through which ideas and values ​​are formed, and from which the process of innovation, creativity, and creating the future begins.

She said on the sidelines of the activities of crowning the champion of the Arab Reading Challenge, at the UAE level in its tenth edition, that the true value of the “Arab Reading Challenge” is not measured by the number of books that students read, but rather by the number of minds that contribute to building them, and the size of the cognitive and intellectual impact that it leaves on the souls of the participants, stressing that the initiative went beyond being an annual competition, to transform within ten years into a broad cognitive and cultural movement that strengthened the presence of reading in Arab schools and societies, and contributed to consolidating it as a way of life.

Sarah Al Amiri added that the challenge has succeeded in reaching millions of students inside and outside the Arab world, and has become a leading model in disseminating knowledge and motivating generations to read, noting that during one of the initiative’s seasons, the UAE recorded participation of more than 830,000 students, both male and female, which reflects the broadening of the participation base and the entrenchment of the culture of reading in the educational environment.

Sarah Al Amiri emphasized that reading is not just a means of communication, but rather a space in which ideas are formulated, and through which a system of values ​​is built, and it represents the bridge that connects knowledge to action, and turns the idea into a tangible impact and achievement that is reflected in society and development.

Sarah Al Amiri explained that reading in the Arabic language represents a fundamental pillar in shaping the awareness of generations and creating minds capable of thinking, analysis and creativity, stressing that enhancing the status of the Arabic language and establishing the culture of reading and writing in the daily lives of students is a direct investment in the future of the nation, and in preparing generations that possess confidence, knowledge and the ability to face the challenges of the future.

The Minister of Education confirmed that the Ministry continues to work to enhance reading and writing skills by allocating various educational programs and initiatives within schools, developing educational environments that motivate students to read, express and write, in addition to diversifying activities related to reading in a way that contributes to refining personality and developing critical and creative thinking.

Sarah Al Amiri pointed out that the Emirati experience has proven its ability to anticipate the future and respond to rapid changes, thanks to its approach based on investing in people, which she described as the most sustainable and influential investment, because it establishes generations that possess knowledge, skill and values, and are able to continue the process of development and innovation.

Al Amiri congratulated the participating students and winners in the Arab Reading Challenge, expressing her appreciation to families, teachers, educational institutions, and everyone who contributed to instilling a love of reading in the hearts of children, stressing that every page read, every idea acquired, and every effort made today in building minds, represents a real investment in the future of the UAE, and strengthens its position as a global model in human development and the knowledge industry.