Students across the Territory took up the challenge earlier this year to read 12 books each in 24 weeks.
The 2022 Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge was open to students from Transition to Year 6, with 4227 students from 69 schools participating, as well as individual and home school participants.
The reading challenge aims to encourage students to develop a love of reading for pleasure and understanding through quality literature. It also aims to encourage students to read and view stories in First Nation languages, enabling bilingual and very remote schools to participate fully.
Libraries reported that they created displays of the suggested books with the Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge poster and the student record sheet. The libraries assisted students’ book choices and had ample supply of bookmarks which were snapped up by students.
The outcomes of the challenge include encouraging a love of reading for leisure with a focus on early years, fostering a family reading culture, increasing student and community engagement with school and community libraries, and improving literacy and lifelong learning.
Quotes from Chief Minister Natasha Fyles
“I’m very pleased that so many students took up the Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge this this year.
“Schools commented on how it motivated students to read at home with parents, and home school parents also provided very positive feedback.
“This reading challenge is the perfect opportunity for our Territory kids to learn to love books,”
Quotes from Minister for Education Eva Lawler
“In the digital age we now live in, challenges like this remind us all of just what a pleasure it is to sit down and turn the pages of a book.
“Reading is fundamental to education, but it’s so much more than that – it relieves stress, fosters imagination and creativity, and improves your concentration skills.
“Congratulations to those who took part in the challenge. I hope you will all continue to read for pleasure, every day.”
Northern Territory Government
