First Lady Fazna Ahmed has stated children should be encouraged to engage more deeply with the text they peruse. She made the statement while inaugurating the ‘Let's Read’ programme for children organized by Asia foundation. The inauguration ceremony was held this morning at Maldives National University (MNU).
Highlighting the importance of teaching younger generations to be open minded and grow free from personal bias, the first lady noted critical reading allows the reader to understand the author’s point of view and helps enrich children's minds through a more comprehensive understanding of the ideas and arguments presented in the book. She also noted it is a beneficial life skill to understand different viewpoints and welcome different ideas before making judgements.
Concluding the speech, the first lady implored parents and teachers to encourage all children to read, learn and grow. She also expressed gratitude to the Asia Foundation for their foresight to archive an unprecedented digital library of local language children's books while cultivating a sustainable network of authors and translators who are committed to creating meaningful reading opportunities.
This program is a joint initiative by Asia Foundation, MNU, National Institute of Education, Dhivehi Language Academy and the National Library.