Students of Jessie Ripoll Primary enjoy a story being read by librarian for the Jamaica Library ServiceChantal Cousins, while Kadiesha Grant, senior library assistant, listens in. (Photo:JLS)
April 13, 2025
JLS looking to attract 4,000 reading competition participants
THE Jamaica Library Service (JLS) is looking to attract approximately 4,000 participants for the 2025 National Reading Competition.
This year’s edition, which was launched on April 5 at the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Library, is being held under the theme ‘Keeping Reading Alive in 2025’.
Lifestyle
April 13, 2025
Dwayne had always prided himself on being financially responsible. He saved diligently, avoided unnecessary spending splurges, and even built a modest...
The competition aims to foster a strong culture of reading and support the country’s literacy goals.
Some 3,133 readers across the island, representing the various age group categories: 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, 15-20, and 21 and older, participated in the 2024 renewal.
Columns
...and why more women should start early
April 13, 2025
I picked up my first barbell at 17 years old. At the time, most of my friends were doing aerobics, light jogging, or step classes. Cardio was the stan...
Participants this year will, once again, vie for prizes and to be named reading champion for their respective age group category at the parish and national levels.
Testing at each stage of the competition includes a mix of oral and written elements such as letters, book reviews, and puzzles.
Observer+ News
April 13, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP) -- Jamaican sprint star Kishane Thompson has told AFP he sees a big margin for improvement after the "major stepping stone" of...
The competitors’ ability to read, understand and interpret set books or excerpts of books are the main determinants for the selection of winners.
Director of corporate communications and marketing at JLS, Royane Green said that readers will be exposed to Caribbean literature, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and financial literacy material.
He pointed out that one of this year’s exciting features is a televised quiz final during which participants will answer questions based on the books they have read for the competition.
Green maintained that developing a culture of reading is vital to “our personal development, community development and national development”.
“Reading helps your creativity. It helps with language acquisition; expands vocabulary; deepens cultural awareness of self, of nation, of the region, the Caribbean, as we expose our readers to a diverse range of literature,” he said.
Green emphasised that, “if we have more literate and more reading-centred individuals in the population we will have a lot more creativity in all the sectors of society”.
