CBSE Reading Mission and Initiatives for Students

CBSE Board has recently released a new CBSE Circular regarding “CBSE Reading Mission and Initiatives for Students. In this circular total of 4 Initiatives were discussed. In this article, we provide complete details about “CBSE Reading Mission and Initiatives”. Students are advised to read this article till the end for complete information regarding the latest CBSE Circular.

You probably already know that the CBSE Reading Mission was officially launched on September 20, 2021. Its main goal is to encourage a strong reading culture in all CBSE-affiliated schools across the country. This effort aligns seamlessly with the National Education Policy (NEP) of 2020, which emphasizes the importance of well-stocked school libraries in achieving foundational literacy and numeracy for all children by 2025. In addition, the NEP strongly recommends ensuring the availability of top-notch literature. Aims to promote a culture of reading across the country, for children.

Dedicated to this noble endeavor, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is fully committed to furthering reading literacy among students. As per the guidelines of NEP 2020, CBSE has introduced a number of activities that are now available to all CBSE-affiliated schools. These activities are aimed at facilitating and encouraging reading habits among the students, fostering a dynamic and enriching learning environment. By including these initiatives, CBSE aims to inculcate a lifelong love of reading in students and equip them with literacy skills important for both their academic pursuits and personal development.

CBSE Reading Mission and Initiatives Highlights

The major activities offered through the CBSE Reading Mission for all CBSE-affiliated schools are given below:

1) CBSE Reading App

This innovative digital platform is designed to transform the interaction with the reading material between CBSE students, teachers, and schools. The CBSE Reading App has been carefully designed to align with the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP), giving priority to the nurturing of advanced skills such as creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, visualization, and idea generation.

Steps to Download and Access the CBSE Reading App

• Candidates are advised to first go to your device’s App Store or Google Play Store.
• Search for “CBSE Reading App by Freedom” in the Google Play Store in the search bar.
• Click on the “Install” app on your device.
• Once the installation process is complete, open the app.
• Now tap on the option ‘Get Started’ button to create your account or log in if you already have one.

Embrace the forthcoming era of learning through the CBSE Reading App, and open the doors to a realm of wisdom right at your fingertips. Whether you’re a curious student venturing into new concepts, an educator in search of additional resources, or a school dedicated to nurturing a reading-centric environment, this app stands as your ultimate companion on the voyage of education.

To participate, schools can visit the CBSE Academic website at www.cbseacademic.nic.in for registration. Detailed guidelines and the timeline for the activity are available on the website.

2) CBSE Reading Challenge

With a steadfast dedication to promoting reading literacy among students, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has consistently spearheaded various initiatives. These initiatives include the annual CBSE Reading Challenge, a venture that has been implemented effectively since 2019. In line with the visionary vision of the Board, the CBSE Reading Challenge for the academic session 2023-24 is scheduled to be held in September 2023.

CBSE Reading Challenge presents an exciting opportunity for students of classes 6 to 10 of CBSE-affiliated schools, which enables them to enhance their skills in reading comprehension and critical thinking.

CBSE Reading Challenge Details

Language and Level: The CBSE Reading challenge is available in both Hindi and English languages. It caters to two levels of students: class 6th to 7th, and class 8th to 10th.

Objective: The objective of the competition is to engage the participants in various reading stimuli and assess their abilities in the following areas:

• Reading with comprehension and accuracy.
• Constructing meaning by retrieving information, relating text with prior knowledge, and integrating information.
• Interpreting information and drawing inferences.
• Reflecting and evaluating to judge the quality and credibility of the text.

Two Rounds: The reading challenge is conducted in two rounds: intra-school and inter-school.

• Round One (First Phase): All students of classes VI to X in CBSE-affiliated schools are eligible to participate in the first round. Schools will have to register their students for this phase.
• Round Two (Second Phase): Schools registered in Phase I can nominate and register up to ten students (two best students from each participating class) for the English version of the challenge.

No Participation Fee: There is no participation fee for the students to participate in any of the two phases of the CBSE Reading Challenge. It is designed and developed as an enrichment activity for the students.

Speed and Accuracy: The CBSE Reading Contest focuses on both speed and accuracy. Students will be presented with a Reading Challenge paper consisting of various reading tasks followed by objective-type questions.

CBSE Reading Challenge is a great opportunity for students to immerse themselves in the world of reading and improve their comprehension skills. Encourage your students to participate in this challenge and make the most of this enriching experience.

3) CBSE Budding Authors Program

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 underlines the importance of moving from “learning to read” to “reading to learn” to develop a deeper appreciation and understanding of languages. With a focus on interactive and enjoyable language acquisition, NITIE promotes early experiences of reading and writing through dynamic interactions. In line with this vision, the CBSE Budding Writers Program has been launched to provide an exclusive platform for students to engage with diverse fiction and hone their writing abilities effectively.

The CBSE Budding Authors Program aims to ignite the flame of creativity in students by inspiring them to delve into the art of storytelling. Through writing and submitting short stories as part of this initiative, students are presented with the exciting prospect of giving life to their imagination and concepts, with the added potential of seeing their work in print. This enriching journey not only sharpens his writing skills but also nurtures his self-assurance and ability to express himself.

The program welcomes submissions in both Hindi and English, and students can participate in any of the following three categories:

To participate, schools can visit the CBSE Academic website at www.cbseacademic.nic.in for registration. Detailed guidelines and the timeline for the activity are available on the website.

4) Celebrating the Joy of Reading: P.N. Panicker National Reading Day, Week, and Month

The National Education Policy of 2020 has underscored the paramount importance of reading as a foundational skill for learning. Within this context, public, and private schools, and digital libraries assume pivotal roles in cultivating reading habits among students. An instrumental figure in advancing this cause is the P.N. Panicker Foundation, established in honor of the late P.N. Panicker, renowned as the architect of the Library Movement. To commemorate his enduring legacy, the 19th of June is designated as Reading Day, followed by an entire Reading Week. What was initially envisioned as a single-day Reading Day Celebration back in 1996 has since evolved into a widespread movement dedicated to fostering a pervasive reading culture.

Beyond the foundation’s initiatives, the Central Board of Secondary Education has equally recognized the significance of reading. In observance of International Literacy Day, the board has proclaimed the celebration of a Reading Week from the 8th of September to the 14th of September. Schools are actively encouraged to partake in this endeavor and stimulate reading habits among students through an array of captivating activities:

• Encouraging students to enjoy reading books of their interest, both from the comfort of their homes and the Internet. Schools affiliated with CBSE can share a list of recommended books and provide links to free downloadable e-books from the school library.
• Conducting online sessions with authors, poets, or storytellers to bring the magic of reading to life and inspire students to read more.
• Conducting online reading sessions where students can share their short stories, and book reviews, act out characters from poems/stories, and talk about their inspirations.
• Hosting an online LITFEST with various characters and interacting with the audience.
• Organizing a Read-a-Thon to recognize the Speediest Reader in the classroom.
• Establishing Online book buddies, allowing students to partner up, jointly explore a book, and share their discoveries with the class.
• Fusing Reading and Fine Arts by immersing into narratives or poems, and crafting illustrations or posters kindled by them.
• Coordinating an online Readebate Competition, where students engage in debates and champion the actions of characters from the books they’ve delved into.
• Urging students to forge audio stories derived from the novels or texts they’ve perused.
• Advocating for the development of reading-centric games, puzzles, and riddles.
• Inspire students to design story maps or draw comic strips.
• Hosting an online book character costume party where students can dress up as their favorite children’s book characters and enjoy a party.
• Engaging in round-robin storytelling, where each student contributes a part of the story, making for an interesting story.

Reading is a gateway to a world of knowledge, imagination, and personal growth. Celebrating P.N. Panicker National Reading Day, Week, and Month, along with CBSE’s Reading Week, provides a wonderful opportunity for CBSE school students to develop a lifelong love for reading and unleash their creative potential through the magic of storytelling.

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