Damascus, March 31(SANA) A total of 1,371,225 students across Syria are participating in the 10th edition of the Arab Reading Challenge, under the supervision of 10,090 educators and across 6,331 schools, the Ministry of Education said Monday.
The figures reflect the expanding reach of the initiative and growing interest in reading as a foundation for knowledge and awareness.
Hamza Hourieh, head of the Media Department at the Ministry of Education, told SANA on Monday that the increase in participation compared with last year is driven by the wide spread of the initiative and coordinated efforts between schools and educational and cultural institutions.
He noted that participation extended beyond registration to include supporting activities such as visits to public and private libraries and joint community initiatives aimed at strengthening students’ daily engagement with books.
Hourieh added that 800 students with disabilities are taking part this year, highlighting increasing inclusion and interest in the initiative.
He said the challenge contributes to developing students’ reading, expression and self-learning skills, as well as enhancing critical thinking and cultural awareness.
Launched by the United Arab Emirates, the Arab Reading Challenge encourages students to read 50 books outside school curricula, aiming to build a generation of readers capable of producing knowledge.
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