Mall book reading addresses low reading proficiency among youth
Reading proficiency has been one of the low points in the Philippine educational system as recent results of the National Achievement Test showed that mastery of reading is only 14.4 percent among grade 6 students and only 1.1 percent among fourth year students.
To help improve reading proficiency as well as instill the love for reading among grade school students, SM Supermalls recently conducted the National Children’s Book Reading Day at all of its malls.
The National Children’s Book Reading Day is conducted every year in the month of July in partnership with the National Book Development Board, Calidad Humana, Vibal and the Department of Education. It was held across all the 52 SM Supermalls and 4 SMDC Malls in the plus the 7 SM Malls in China.
Kicking off the event was the reading session at the SM Megamall where hundreds of grade school students from public and private schools attended.
Mandaluyong City Councilor Charisse Marie Abalos and magician Jervey Capili or more popularly known as “Flooch” read children’s books authored by Filipino authors that teach kids the value of friends and playing outdoors.
Across SM Supermalls nationwide, thousands of children simultaneously read children’s books from Vibal Publishing Inc., its partner in the book reading day.
Lani Garcia, a Grade 5 Math master teacher at the Francisco Legaspi Memorial School, who was present during the event, said it is important to teach children the love for reading because it is a vital component in a child’s development.
“I am very glad that there is a program for this in SM malls because this is an effective way to reach more children and instill in them the value and love for reading,” Garcia said.
Garcia said reading is without doubt the foundation of all learning and determines one’s success in school. She also cited a study which correlates proficiency in mathematics to reading proficiency.
“There have been studies which shows a relationship with reading comprehension to mathematics. Those students with poor reading comprehension have also poor performance in mathematics so it also helps that we instill in them the love for reading because the more they read, the better they build on comprehension, problem-solving and creativity,” she said.
Garcia, who was part of the first batch of scholars of SM Foundation in the 1990s, said she has always been supportive of programs that develop the full potential of children. “And the fact that this is an SM initiative is something close to my heart because without my scholarship in the SM Foundation, I would not be where I am now,” she said.
Royston Cabuñag, head of the SM Cares Program on Children and Youth, said the National Book Reading Day event is SM’s way of helping shape future leaders who will make a difference in the country’s future.
“This advocacy for reading is always part of our commitment to cultivate not just the love for reading but actually nurture the love for reading among our children. In this way we will help shape our future thinkers and leaders who will steer our country towards development in the future. The children’s book reading event is also one of SM’s ways of supporting communities.” Cabuñag said.
To know more about SM Cares, you may visit www. or smcares.com.ph www.facebook.com/OfficialSMCares.