MSCERT wants reading classes to get kids off mobiles

Looking at the growing trend of mobile phone, internet and social media usage among school-going children, the education department wants to bring some change in them. The director of Maharashtra State Council of Education Research and Training (MSCERT) has issued a circular for all education inspectors of primary and secondary departments to inform schools to dedicate one period of language for reading books. This, the order states, is in order to inculcate good reading habits among children. The state board schools have welcomed the move.

Anil Bornare, president Mumbai Shikshak Parishad, said, "It has been observed that most of the students are perennially engrossed in mobile phones, internet and in chatting with their friends on social networking sites. Hence, we feel the move of MSCERT is healthy. We welcome this move."

However, the circular has not mentioned clearly whether that one hour of reading should be done once a week or once a month.

Uday Nare, a teacher of Hansraj Morarji Public School in Andheri, said, "According to my understanding, the reading for one hour should be done once a week for any language. This move will bring good reading habits among children, who are often found glued to their cell phones. However, the government should also provide good autobiography books to schools."

Shikshak Parishad claims that so far the circulars seems to be applicable for only state board schools. "But we will demand that they should be made applicable for other boards as well," said Bornare.