Time to revive and restore the lost culture of reading and writing in our education system.
Schools and colleges must organise reading and writing competitions to improve students’ reading comprehension and writing skills.
Reading and writing are the enduring and indispensable foundations of education, learning, and communication. A dramatic shift towards technological interventions at the cost of these fundamental skills cannot help us achieve the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP), let alone the diverse objectives of technologically driven modern education.
Over the last decade, education has undergone a rapid and significant transformation through the introduction of advanced digital tools, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and robotics. These developments have not only reshaped pedagogical practices but have also challenged and redefined the role of teachers. In the process of keeping pace with emerging technologies and acquiring digital skills, the teaching-learning process appears to have lost sight of foundational literacy skills—reading and writing—which remain at the heart of every education system.
In the era of digital literacy, students are increasingly distracted from developing these foundational skills. Their attention spans have reportedly diminished, making it difficult for them to concentrate on activities such as reading and writing, which are essential prerequisites for effective communication and progress in every field of education. Consequently, many students struggle to read and comprehend texts, books, and other written material. Reading not only strengthens vocabulary and broadens knowledge but also serves as a source of inspiration, expanding intellectual horizons and nurturing vision, wisdom, and understanding.
Reading comprehension and writing skills are the lifelines of education and language. They shape and develop critical thinking, creativity, and innovation, all of which are benchmarks of educational competence. Excessive dependence on technology can detach students from the practice of reading and writing. This is reflected in the difficulties many students, even at the college level, face when attempting to comprehend standard texts, construct grammatically correct sentences, or write a simple application. Such a situation is deeply concerning and signals the need for urgent corrective measures.
The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) has highlighted a grim picture of foundational learning outcomes. According to the figures cited, only 16.6 per cent of Class III students and 37.7 per cent of Class V students can read texts intended for lower classes. If this trend continues at the primary level, it raises serious questions about the quality of human resources we are preparing for the future.
While we must keep pace with technological advancements and make effective use of digital interventions, we must not allow them to overshadow the teaching and learning of fundamental skills, particularly at the primary and middle-school levels.
To reclaim, revive, and reimagine the culture of reading and writing, schools and colleges must organise reading and writing competitions and exchange best practices to strengthen these essential skills. The examination system must also adopt assessment patterns that adequately evaluate students’ language proficiency, reading comprehension, written expression, and communication skills. Such reforms are necessary to improve both the quality of learning and students’ overall educational development.
Technology facilitates learning and complements teaching to achieve better educational outcomes, but it cannot replace foundational educational skills or the role of teachers. Only when students master the skills of reading and writing can they communicate effectively, which is imperative for learning, sharing ideas, exchanging knowledge, and disseminating information. These abilities are essential for preparing students to navigate an increasingly complex and rapidly changing educational world.
Hilal Bhat (Biotech) is a writer and columnist who provides in-depth analysis of issues related to society, polity, and modern education.
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