Regular reading habit can shape students' future, says Guntur DEO

What Happened

At Mandadam Zilla Parishad High School in Amaravati, an English Language Development Initiative was launched collaboratively by The Hindu and VIT-AP. The event was attended by Guntur District Educational Officer Sk. Saleem Bhasha, VIT-AP Vice-Chancellor P. Arulmozhivarman, and The Hindu Resident Editor Appaji Reddem. Bhasha asserted that regular reading of newspapers, especially The Hindu, can broaden students' knowledge and prospects in education and careers. He advised students to use newspapers to learn about education, science and technology, agriculture, and global innovations.

He emphasized using technology as a learning tool rather than for entertainment and noted the success of UPSC and APPSC aspirants who benefited from regularly reading The Hindu. He outlined three guiding principles for students: listen to parents and teachers, maintain good handwriting, and attend school regularly. The sponsor institutions were thanked for CSR support, supporting Young World and Teen Digest programs, which they said would improve English skills.

The Hindu Andhra Pradesh Resident Editor Appaji Reddem highlighted that English proficiency can influence education, careers, and future opportunities. He shared his own experience of learning English through newspapers and dictionaries and urged students to read, write, and speak regularly. Referring to Francis Bacon, he stressed selecting the right balance of reading approaches and said newspapers combine enjoyment with knowledge and deeper learning. He added that a strong mother-tongue foundation aids learning other languages. VIT-AP Vice-Chancellor P. Arulmozhivarman outlined how reading develops curiosity, imagination, vocabulary, communication skills, and confidence, and encouraged students to ask questions to foster scientific thinking and problem-solving abilities. He described English as an enabler for higher education and global communication that should complement Indian languages, and proposed a routine of reading 15 to 20 minutes daily with the mantra Read, Think, Discuss, Question and Share. He closed with the idea that today’s reader is tomorrow’s thinker, who becomes a society’s problem-solver. Head Master T. Nagesh urged students to read The Hindu to enhance knowledge and language skills.