Delhi Govt Schools Mandate 30-Minute Daily Reading Period

NEW DELHI — Government schools across Delhi will now be required to set aside 30 minutes on all school days for a dedicated reading period, following instructions issued by the Department of Education (DoE) under the Samagra Shiksha-Delhi programme.

According to the official directions, schools are strictly prohibited from making timetable adjustments or replacing any existing class period to carve out this daily reading session. Officials in the Department of Education noted that the initiative is designed to revive regular reading habits among students at a time when reading is increasingly being overshadowed by other forms of engagement.

To implement the initiative, the DoE has laid out a comprehensive, year-long plan focused on library-based activities for schools. As part of the daily routine, schools have been instructed to introduce a 10 to 15 minute "drop everything and read" session every day. The primary 30-minute reading period will be used for silent reading, book discussions, and related literary activities.

Schools have been provided with a broad calendar of activities to keep students engaged throughout the academic year. The schedule includes weekly library periods, read-aloud sessions, and book talks. The plan also proposes the creation of a "reading wall" in schools, where students can display book reviews, quotations, illustrations, and book recommendations.

The reading initiative extends beyond the classroom, calling for family reading weeks to be held twice a year. Additional planned activities include an annual reading festival, the maintenance of a "reading passport" to record each student's reading progress, book donation drives, and regular newspaper reading and discussion sessions.