“A key priority of education policy is to foster a love of reading, as books open up horizons, enhance imagination and cultivate children’s thinking, making a significant contribution to the formation of active and thoughtful citizens.”
This was stressed by the Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Sophia Zacharaki, earlier today, Thursday, at a school event on the occasion of World Children’s Book Day.
Mrs Zacharaki, who participated remotely in an event at the 1st primary school of Vrilissia, stressed that the ministry’s aim is to bring books closer to students, fostering creativity, imagination and the joy of reading.
According to the ministry, the participation of students highlights the importance of contact with books from early school age, as well as the crucial role of literacy in shaping children’s personality.
From the ministry’s point of view, it was recalled that the establishment of a single network of school libraries across the country is underway, with the aim of substantially strengthening literacy and upgrading the educational infrastructure of public schools.
In this context, new school libraries are created every year, existing ones are upgraded and more than 8,000 school units are strengthened with book collections, establishing for the first time a comprehensive national framework for school libraries. At the same time, the digital interconnection of school libraries with the National Library of Greece is being launched, in order to ensure wider and equal access to educational and cultural material for pupils.
At the same time, the ministry is strengthening school libraries with librarians, while there are plans to enrich school libraries with up to 2.000 new book titles and modern material, strengthening both new and existing structures.
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The aim of the interventions, according to the ministry, is to transform school libraries “into vibrant, welcoming and creative learning spaces, where access to knowledge and modern educational tools will be equal for all students”.
The new institutional framework is implemented through the programme “Strengthening and Enrichment of School Libraries” of the NSRF 2021-2027, with a total budget of 60 million euros, and includes, among other things, the creation and strengthening of book collections, staffing with specialized personnel, as well as the operation of a National Network of School Libraries with the participation of the educational community.
Also, special emphasis on literature has been given in the new curricula.
Finally, the Ministry of Education, through the ITYE “Diophantus”, has sent comprehensive literature books (print and digital) to all levels, from primary to high school. These books are distributed free of charge and are taught alongside the school textbook, with the aim of fostering literacy and critical thinking.
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