Doubts over "reading culture" campaign

Public concerns areincreasing about the efficiency of a VND230 billion (USD10.2 million)project intended to develop literacy and reading in Vietnam.

 

Few people go to the library to read

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will co-ordinate withseveral ministries and agencies including the Ministries of Finance,Education and Training, Information and Communication, Science andTechnology to successfully implement the project.

Theproject is aimed at raising the rate of Vietnamese regularly readingfrom a current 30% to 40% in 2015 to an ambitious 65% by 2020. Thecampaign will also attempt to slash the numbers of those who don’t readat all from a current 26% to 20% this year to 15% by 2020. 

The project would also help upgrade a lot of libraries at district andprovincial levels and school libraries as well as encourage families tobuy more books.

 

However, doubts have been raised about the project.

 

Dr. Nguyen Manh Hung, general director of Thaihabook JSC said therewasn’t any obvious correlation between investing billions of VND inbooks and there being more readers. Actually addressing and meeting thetastes of modern-day readers was probably more of an issue.

 

Nguyen Quang Thach, the initiator of books for rural areas campaign saidmany people just like reading light romantic novels, and obviouslypublishers were keen to keep this part of the market well stocked.

 

“I’m afraid that the investment into this major campaign may bewasteful,” said Dr. Nguyen Manh Hung. “Most of books at state librariesare propaganda and only a few books seem to be popular. I’m worried thatthe project would foster publishers that concentrate on this,” he said.

 

Dr. Nguyen Tung Lam, chairman of the Hanoi Education PsychologyAssociation, said, “It’s necessary to carefully study current readinghabits and work out a plan on developing a reading culture.”

 

Hung emphasised the importance of studying people’s tastes in ruralareas in order to provide them with books they actually want. Hesuggested books on agriculture cultivation, positive thinking,healthcare and books to stimulate people’s minds were equally as neededas books for pleasure.

 

Thach said, “My study showed that most Vietnamese readers are agedbelow18, so the project should carefully consider strategies toencourage adults to get involved, including reading competitions forvillages.”

 

Several other experts said that the project organisers should be awareof the recent fast development of e-books so modern distribution methodsare also addressed.

Dtinews

Doubts over "reading culture" campaign

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