Every secondary school in England will receive £1,400 to purchase new library books, as part of a budget initiative aimed at reversing the sharp decline in reading for enjoyment. This announcement from Rachel Reeves is set to be delivered on March 15, 2024, and represents a significant £5 million investment into addressing what many consider a reading crisis among young people.
The initiative comes in response to the recent launch of The Sunday Times’ Get Britain Reading campaign, which has garnered support from over 100 prominent authors and public figures. Notable supporters of the campaign include Sebastian Faulks, Julia Donaldson, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Ian McEwan, Richard Osman, JK Rowling, and Jacqueline Wilson. Their collective advocacy aims to inspire a renewed interest in literature among children, highlighting the importance of reading as a fundamental skill for learning and understanding the world.
In conjunction with this funding, Members of Parliament (MPs) will initiate an inquiry into the “worrying decline” in reading among children. This inquiry, conducted by the cross-party education select committee, will investigate the observed “generational shift” away from reading and examine strategies to help young people reconnect with books. The committee’s focus will encompass schools, libraries, and nurseries, seeking to understand how these institutions can work together to promote literacy.
The inquiry aims to provide insights into the challenges faced by today’s youth in developing a love for reading. By addressing these issues, the goal is to support educational frameworks that prioritize literacy as a key component of child development.
With this funding and the upcoming inquiry, the UK government is taking concrete steps to ensure that reading remains a vital part of childhood education. The hope is that these measures will not only enhance literacy rates but also foster a lifelong appreciation for literature, which is crucial for personal growth and societal engagement.
