Prime Minister Hun Manet has urged relevant ministries and institutions to increase public book fairs to enhance knowledge, strengthen skills, and develop research habits, especially to reduce children’s use of mobile phones.
In a get-together with BacII Grade-A students yesterday, Mr Hun Manet said that public book fairs are always well-attended, with many parents bringing their children to buy books for them to read.
“I would like to encourage more book fairs. Ten to twenty years ago, there were not many books, even those translated into Khmer or other children’s books, but now there are many writers,” he said, referring to this year’s National Book Fair which ended on Sunday.
He expressed his desire to encourage children to work hard to learn and read more books, as more reading can foster an addiction to knowledge.
“When we were young, we didn’t have as many books to read as we do now. In each school, there were only five books in the library, but there were 400 to 500 students, and students took notes from teachers to memorise,” he said.
Mr Hun Manet noted that, currently, kindergartens and primary schools, have at least one book per student.
He added that reading books is very important, especially by reducing the time wasted through playing games on phones. Parents should buy books for their children to read, and reading does not necessarily mean reading high-level books but rather books that interest the children.
“All learning, reading books, and research provide additional knowledge for everyone,” he said.
Hok Sothik, a representative of the National Book Fair 2024 Organizing Committee, said that this year number of booths displaying books increased to nearly 300 compared the fewer than 250 last year.
He said that while the book fair has been successful in terms of the number of book stands and visitors, it is essential for people with better living conditions, civil servants, employees of companies, enterprises, and other relevant parties to help support more literary works.
At the opening ceremony of the fair on Friday, Hang Chuon Naron, Minister of Education, Youth and Sport, said that the National Book Fair was organised to provide an opportunity for Cambodian writers to showcase their works and promote reading in the Kingdom.
He added that, from year to year, the number of participants in the fair and the number of authors has increased significantly. The writing and publishing of books reflect socio-economic development, as knowledge cannot be passed from one generation to another without writing and publishing.
Naron said that in the 1950s and 1960s, Cambodian writers created classic works that were included in the curriculum for Cambodian students, such as the literature of Kolap Bailin, Pka Srapoon, and Meala Duong Chit, which were considered works of the highest literary level.
Cambodia organised the 11th National Book Fair on Koh Pich from December 19 to 22, with the aim of promoting reading habits among the general public and supporting the publishing industry in the Kingdom.
Kok Ros, a member of the organizing committee for the Cambodian Book Fair 2024, noted that what made this year’s book fair particularly special was the strong support and encouragement from prominent figures. The fair featured books for sale by writers, poets, publishing houses, and bookstores, with a wide variety of genres, including literature, success books, self-development books, political books, history books, and research books, among others.
- Tags: book fairs
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