Sahil Manzoor
In today’s era, the world believes we are heading toward significant achievements—and yes, this is true. However, at the same time, we are ignoring some fundamental responsibilities, particularly our duty towards the younger generation. It is they who will shape the future and determine the direction our nation will take in achieving milestones across various fields.
One small but impactful step we can take is to encourage students to build mini home libraries—starting with just 10 to 20 books. Schools can support this by awarding stars or extra credit in progress reports to students who maintain a home library.
Books are precious assets. They are a treasury of knowledge and a trustworthy companion in moments of solitude. When we have nothing to do, a book becomes our best alternative. Books are not only a source of facts and information, but they also ignite curiosity, improve focus, and build strong foundational knowledge. In many ways, a book is like a compact gadget filled with endless discoveries.
Why read books?
For students up to 10th grade, NCERT books and general knowledge resources such as weekly or monthly magazines are among the best tools to build a strong academic base. Students from Grade 6 onward should be encouraged to read widely—not just textbooks, but books that build general understanding. Unfortunately, many students pursuing professional courses lack basic knowledge in history, civics, geography, Urdu, Hindi, or English because they believe these subjects are no longer relevant to them. This mindset must change.
We must understand that education is not just about preparing for unit tests or final exams. As educators and parents, we should provide a variety of interesting books—ones that spark interest, develop thinking skills, and reduce pressure and stress. School administrators should ensure access to updated and engaging books, and help students understand the long-term benefits of regular reading.
Even as adults, we can cultivate this habit by picking up a storybook or a novel by a renowned author. It enriches our understanding and exposes us to concepts we may have never learned during our school years.
Rethinking the way we learn
Traditionally, our education system has stressed focusing on a few subjects while ignoring others. However, we must now create a learning environment that is free, happy, and flexible. In such a setting, students learn more effectively and become independent learners at an early age. By the time a student completes 10th grade, they should have a solid grip on spoken English and basic life concepts.
It is often said that a degree is just a piece of paper. What truly matters is the potential to learn, the confidence to discuss, and the ability to share knowledge with others.
The power of a home library
A home library is more than just a shelf of books—it’s a gateway to lifelong learning. I propose that we award stars to students in their report cards who have built a home library with at least 15 to 20 books. Encourage them to decorate their almirahs with books instead of showpieces.
Imagine a space in their own room where they can read at any time—no need to visit libraries far away. Having access to trending books for competitive exams, as well as story books, novels, and religious texts, provides learners with a chance to grow intellectually during their free time.
Let us shift our focus from traditional rote learning to fostering curiosity. Let us make books a part of every child’s daily life. That way, we are not just preparing them for exams—we are preparing them for life.
(The author is a freelancer and can be reached at [email protected])
