UP govt mandates daily newspaper in schools to improve reading culture, curb screen time

The government believes this initiative will not only improve students’ general knowledge, vocabulary, critical thinking, concentration and social awareness, but also prepare them better for competitive exams and sensitise them against fake news.

In addition to newspaper reading, schools are encouraged to engage students in various activities such as publishing their own school newspapers or magazines, holding editorial-based writing or group discussions for Classes nine to 12, and hosting crossword and Sudoku competitions. They are urged to promote scrapbook-making using news cuttings among junior students.

These instructions are in continuation of a previous order issued on November 2, under which the state had launched a broader reading campaign to inculcate book-reading habits among students and curb excessive use of mobile phones and social media, education department officials said.

The order allowed students’ access to government district libraries, made it mandatory for them to issue at least one non-syllabus book every week, and introduced incentives such as appreciation certificates for avid readers.

It also launched the “No Bouquet, Only Book” campaign, under which books would be gifted instead of trophies at school functions.

Both orders have been circulated to all divisional education officials, district inspectors of schools and basic education officers, with strict instructions to ensure full implementation across the state, senior officials said.