Bangkok administration launches reading-promotion campaign
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Inspired by its starring role as the World Book Capital this year, Bangkok is stepping up its efforts to promote a love of reading by joining in a campaign with more than 20 leading public and private organisations such as Chulalongkorn University, TK Par
“We hope Bangkok residents will read 10 to 15 books per year,” Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said on Friday during the signing of the collaboration agreement at a Bangkok hotel.
That’s up drastically from only about five books on average now.
Deputy Governor Amorn Kitchawengkul said at the ceremony that Bangkok wants to set a good example for future World Book Capitals and for other provinces in Thailand.
“The promotion of reading is important and it is the duty of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to push literacy further, particularly because there is still a lack of literary skills in many parts of the country,” he said.
Under the collaboration, the BMA has embarked on projects to donate books to public schools, renovate libraries, recruit influential figures and celebrities to speak about the importance of reading at events targeting the young, place shelves for recycled books in public waiting areas and regularly recommend books through social networks like Facebook.
Among the three speakers invited to lead discussions at the event on ways reading and writing can be made more a part of people’s lives, Suthathip Tatchayapong said a love of reading should be imbued in children as young as six months old.
Parents should be encouraged to read aloud to their young children. This would not only educate the toddlers, but also help build a strong bond within the family. Children raised with good reading habits will not fall prey to the “perils of computer games and modern social media”, he added.
However, someone in the audience protested that “we cannot afford to ignore social media” due to its rapid proliferation. He suggested that people find ways to apply and encourage good reading habits via modern technology.
Prof Jira Hongladarom from Thammasat University stressed the importance of literacy and warned listeners about the moral decay in society here.
“People look at Thailand’s GDP and think we’re rich,” he said.
“Actually, we’re not rich at all, in terms of human capital. Countries like Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos have moved far ahead of us.”
