UP schools are making newspapers mandatory! From 10-minute morning reading sessions to ‘word of the day’ exercises, see how students will tackle news, boost vocabulary, and fight fake news- all before their first class.
Yogi govt makes newspaper reading mandatory in UP schools
Lucknow: In a major initiative to strengthen reading habits among students, the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has directed all secondary and basic primary schools to make newspaper reading a daily activity.
The order, issued by Additional Chief Secretary (Secondary and Basic Primary Education) mandates that both Hindi and English newspapers must be available in school libraries.
The move aims to enhance students’ general knowledge, vocabulary, critical thinking, and social awareness, while also reducing excessive screen time. Schools are required to dedicate at least 10 minutes during the morning assembly for newspaper reading, where students will read key editorials and major news updates from national, international, and sports news on a rotational basis.
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Alongside newspaper reading, schools have been instructed to implement a “word of the day” exercise. Five challenging words from newspapers will be displayed on the school notice board daily to help students improve their vocabulary. Officials said this initiative is expected to better prepare students for competitive exams and sensitize them against fake news.
The order also encourages schools to involve students in various related activities. These include publishing school newspapers or magazines, organizing editorial-based writing exercises and group discussions for Classes 9 to 12, and conducting crossword and Sudoku competitions. Junior students will be motivated to create scrapbooks using newspaper cuttings, fostering creativity and engagement with current affairs.
This newspaper reading initiative follows a previous order issued on November 2, which launched a wider reading campaign to promote book-reading habits among students and curb mobile phone and social media usage. That campaign allowed students access to government district libraries, made it mandatory to issue at least one non-syllabus book per week, and introduced incentives such as appreciation certificates for avid readers.
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Additionally, the “No Bouquet, Only Book” campaign was introduced, under which books are gifted instead of trophies at school events. Both the November and December orders have been circulated to all divisional education officials, district inspectors of schools, and basic education officers, with strict instructions for full implementation across the state.
With these steps, the UP government aims to create a more informed, aware, and academically prepared generation of students who are better equipped to navigate the challenges of modern life.
