Singapore students top global rankings for reading, but fewer enjoy it
Singapore topped the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study, surpassing Ireland, Hong Kong, and Russia.
SINGAPORE — While students in Singapore have been recognised as the world's top readers, a recent international study revealed that fewer Primary four students enjoy reading than in previous years.
The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) results, released on Tuesday (May 16), highlighted the strong performance of Singapore students in foundational and higher-order reading skills and their proficiency in navigating the digital environment and assessing the credibility of information.
According to the Ministry of Education (MOE), students demonstrated an impressive ability to make judgments regarding the perspective, point of view, and bias present in texts.
The study, conducted every five years, assessed the reading abilities of a representative sample of 6,719 Primary four students from all 183 primary schools in Singapore between October and November 2020.
Students in Singapore claimed the top spot in the latest rankings, surpassing their previous second-place position in 2016. Ireland secured the second position, followed by Hong Kong in third and Russia in fourth.
While 35 per cent of the students here achieved the highest "Advanced" international benchmark in the 2021 study, which is significantly higher than the international median of 7 per cent indicating high competency in reading difficult texts and displaying higher-order thinking skills, another notable finding has emerged.
Decline in reading enjoyment not unique to Singapore: MOE
The study uncovered a decline in the proportion of students who reported enjoying reading over the years. In 2016, 55 per cent of students expressed "enjoying reading a lot," which dropped to 51 per cent in 2021.
Similarly, the proportion of students whose parents reported "enjoying reading a lot" fell from 53 per cent in 2016 to 48 per cent in 2021.
According to MOE, the decline in reading enjoyment is not unique to Singapore. They stated, "It may in part be driven by the rapid proliferation of other forms of entertainment and content formats like social media over the last decade."
Liew Wei Li, the director-general of education at MOE, emphasised the importance of reading literacy as a foundational skill for learning. She said, "Reading literacy is the foundation for learning and one of the most important skills that our students acquire in primary school."
Liew also acknowledged the efforts made by MOE specialists and master teachers to enhance the curriculum and strengthen the capabilities of teachers.
Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, pupils in Singapore have demonstrated strong reading literacy by international standards. She added that this is attributed to the continuous learning facilitated by teachers and the close partnership between parents and schools in adapting to the circumstances.
“Building a strong culture of reading takes a whole-of-society effort. We thank parents and community partners for their dedication towards fostering good reading habits in our young, and in nurturing them to become confident, competent readers,” added Liew.
Schools' effort to foster a love for reading
Schools like Lianhua Primary School are also trying to cultivate a passion for reading among their students.
Under the leadership of its principal, Pamela Kiew, the school has implemented a series of dynamic initiatives to foster a culture of reading and create an enriching environment for its young learners.
Kiew told Yahoo Southeast Asia on Wednesday (17 May), "Our reading programme strives to create a supportive and engaging environment where students develop strong reading skills, a love for reading, and the ability to comprehend and analyse various texts. We cultivate a love for reading through school-wide efforts and in-class initiatives,"
She explained that their book-sharing programs create a stimulating atmosphere for students, fostering independent reading and collaboration.
By offering a wide range of books in the classroom library, hosting discussions about books, offering inspiring recommendations, and facilitating book exchanges, they aim to empower students to explore various literary realms and ignite their curiosity.
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