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More than 1 000 heads of primary and secondary schools, teachers, school librarians, students and their parents today (April 25) participated in the 2015 World Book Day Fest (the Fest) to celebrate World Book Day.
The Fest featured a variety of stimulating, meaningful and fun reading-related activities, including "Flashmob Theatre", "Rugby in English", "Intensive Reading Session", storytelling and parallel sharing sessions conducted by schools, families, government and non-governmental organisations on sharing their valuable experiences in promoting reading and writing across the city.
In his keynote speech, Professor Piet Van de Craen, an internationally renowned scholar, enlightened participants about the challenges and opportunities of achieving quality language learning and teaching in Hong Kong.
The event, themed "Towards a Reading City", was co-organised by the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research (SCOLAR) and the Education Bureau at St Francis of Assisi's Caritas School.
In his welcoming speech, the SCOLAR Chairman, Professor Cheng Kai-ming, stressed the importance of language which was the foundation of learning. He said that the Fest had demonstrated how schools, families, government and non-governmental organisations promoted reading and writing across the city. Both primary and secondary students were engaged in exploring the pleasure of books and reading-related activities.
Also speaking at the Fest's opening ceremony, the Secretary for Education, Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim said, "Today's event affirms the importance of educators and parents in promoting reading. Our gratitude also goes to the whole education sector and various community partners for their concerted effort and support in contributing to nurturing a fine reading culture in this city."
Ends/Saturday, April 25, 2015
Issued at HKT 15:30
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