English novels in course curriculum to encourage reading habits

Updated on: Wednesday, June 20, 2012

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced English novels in the course curriculum of students from classes IX to XII in all its affiliated schools from the academic session 2012-13 to encourage reading habits among school children.

According to Vineet Joshi, chairman, CBSE, the Board constantly encourages schools to provide multi-fold learning experiences to young children. Good reading habits help children to acquire the power of imagination, expression and appreciation of literature. Though all the skills of gaining proficiency in a language are equally important, nevertheless, reading habit helps tremendously in improving comprehension, accuracy, fluency and in increasing vocabulary. Reading provokes questioning, helps in generating ideas and inspires students to think. It also supports the syllabus in diverse ways by enhancing language competence across the curriculum.

Strengthening of Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) has added further impetus in fostering interest in children to read books. As part of the formative assessment in CCE, schools are being advised to take up Reading Projects. Schools have also been encouraged to use multiple modes of assessment such as conducting reviews, script, reading, etc.

The board prescribes a multi-cultural and technology enabled pedagogical approach in all the languages offered by it. In this process, incorporating all the four skills reading, writing, listening and speaking in the curriculum prescribed by the board has placed an equitable emphasis on essential skills of English language. CBSE recommends that reading skill should be fostered in children to make them better orators, autonomous learners as well as critical and creative thinkers, adds Joshi.

Every school has finalised one classic for students to read. Students will be evaluated continuously under CCE for the reading skills. At the end of the session, their marks on reading skills will be totalled in their final marks, informs Prabha Sharma, assistant to English consultant, CBSE.

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