Book exhibition, Arab reading challenge launched in Jeddah

The University of Business and Technology (UBT) with the cooperation of the Ministry of Education launched on Sunday a book exhibition and an Arabic reading challenge.
The book exhibition and Arab reading challenge for students was inaugurated by Abdullah bin Ahmed Al-Thaqafi, director general of education in Jeddah, Haya Al-Awad, deputy director at the Ministry of Education for girls’ education, and Lulu Al-Mutlaq, director of the UBT for Girls College.
Najwa Salim, the deputy dean of UBT, told Arab News the Arab reading challenge was launched in Jeddah as part of a program founded by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, to encourage youngsters to read Arabic books.
She said the winners will participate in the Arab reading challenge at the Arab world level in Dubai.
Students from the first grade to high school can participate in the challenge. The goal is to get “a million children” in the region to read 50 Arabic books each, including reading and summarizing 10 books, besides their regular schoolbooks.
Al-Awad said the book exhibition shows the desire of the Education Ministry to encourage students to read.
Al-Mutlaq said the Arab world is going through a crisis of reading and knowledge. The region ranks lowest in terms of reading, and the challenge will help repair the imbalance.
She stressed that reading is the key to knowledge and renaissance of civilization. “We want to be reading families,” she said.
The UBT witnessed the attendance of more than 10,000 students on the first day.
Registration is open on Sunday and Wednesday for male students and Monday to Thursday for girls. Families may register any of these days from 4-9 p.m.
Students also can register online at http://www.arabreadingchallenge.com.