Arab Reading Challenge (ARC) participants were honoured at a ceremony held under the patronage of the Minister of Education His Excellency Dr. Mohammad Abdulatif Al-Fares and ARC Secretary General Najla Al Shamsi at the Kuwait National Library.

His Excellency honoured Taima Abdullah Al Omari, the Kuwait ARC champion who is in the 11th grade at Al Ratqa High School, and Dr. Mubarak Raja Al Otaibi, the winner of the distinguished supervisor award for the state.

His Excellency stated, “We are proud of our schools and students, who made excellent progress at the second round of the Arab Reading Challenge. We congratulate Taima Al Omari and Dr. Mubarak Al Otaibi, and wish them success as they enter the fourth and final stage of the challenge on the regional level.”

He continued, “The Arab Reading Challenge is in line with our educational objectives in Kuwait; instilling a passion for knowledge in a generation of readers is one of our main goals. Continued knowledge is essential for meeting the challenges of the future in a changing world, which is why we encourage participation in this challenge, and appreciate its contribution to our country and the entire Arab World.”

ARC Secretary General Najla Al Shamsi said, “We are pleased with the sheer size and level of participation that we saw in Kuwait. ARC aligned well with the governments goals to support a generation of avid readers, armed with knowledge, and ready to face their future and contribute to the development path of the nation as a whole.”

His Excellency also honoured all ten student finalists, Ayram Ahmed Al Otaibi (5th grade at Al Sabika School), Rahma Mohammed Ahmed (8th grade at Um Saad School), Asma Amer Al Shammari (12th grade at Fatima bint Atba School), Asma Ibrahim (8th grade at Um Saad School), Nour Imad Hassan (7th grade at Ekhlas School), Bashid Falah Al Mutairi (12th grade at Fatima bint Atba School), Rania Sabri Shaaban (12th grade at Hawa bint Yazid School), Yasmine Awad Al Fikr (11th grade at Nuria Sabeeh School), and Sultan Majid Al Tooq (12th grade at Jassem Al Kharafi School).

Over 63,250 students from various grades made it to the second phase of the Arab Reading Challenge; two committees were formed and assessed the participants. Alongside, the top ten winners from last year (2015/16) competed in the ARC Diamond Round; the students read 75 books in an academic year, with support from three supervisors and give schools – the winners were selected.

The Arab Reading Challenge was launched by UAE Prime Minister and Vice President and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in September 2015. It represents the largest pan-Arab reading project, and aims to promote a sustainable model for reading through an integrated system of student-supervisor follow-ups and support, as well as monetary incentives for students, supervisors and schools across the Arab World. The project hopes to instigate a cultural renaissance in the Arab World by encouraging students to read and continuously expand their knowledge.