| James Kon |
ACCORDING to findings from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), awareness in using effective reading strategies and reading habits indicates a high correlation with students’ fluency in reading.
This was revealed by Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman, the Minister of Education, at the launch of ‘My Inspiration’ books for primary and secondary school students at the Hall of Raja Isteri Girls High School (STPRI).
He added that the findings also show that those who possess an effective reading strategy and habits will have more fun reading than those who do not.
He said PISA 2018 will measure the reading strategies and habits of students in the country and the results of the findings will be the basic measurement of reading efficiency among 15-year-old students.
For implementing the assessment, the Minister of Education said, “Familiarise students to answer PISA questions that require them to explore, clarify and provide explanations. Teachers must diversify methods such as changing the technique of questioning to be more stimulating and can tap the potential to think creatively.
“Schools are also encouraged to promote literacy and numeracy guidance programmes for primary and secondary schools to improve the literacy and numeracy levels of students in the country. This is not only relevant to improving the level of fluent reading but also as a growing interest in reading among the students who should start early.”
In this era of technology, the minister said, “Reading based on printed books is no longer the primary way in searching and gaining knowledge. Compared to printed books, Internet and mobile phones are becoming popular as a media to acquire knowledge particularly among the younger generation.”
However, he also noted that printed books cannot be sidelined as they still play an important role in providing knowledge.
The minister added, “The effort to cultivate reading habits among students in Brunei Darussalam is not new. In fact, these efforts continue to be intensified from time to time and we are equally mobilising resources to find the best alternative approaches to create awareness and encourage the people in the country to read as a practice for developing a community of educated and skilled people, living a high quality of life.”
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