Oxford Big Read Global Contest, by Oxford University Press is back to encourage young readers across India
New Delhi: Oxford University Press (OUP) global initiative Oxford Big Read is back to encourage young children to enrich their lives by embarking on a life-long journey as avid readers. Two Indian students, Kavya Raj Agarwal from Centre Point School, Wardhaman Nagar, Nagpur, Maharashtra, and Tanisha Gupta from Centre Point School, Amravati Road Bypass, Nagpur, Maharashtra were recognised as winners of the Oxford Big Read Global Competition – 2021.
Referred to as a child’s window to the world, books have the power to transform a child’s life. A love for reading can shape a child’s global outlook and enable them to make sense of the world around them.
Kavya Raj Agarwal, grade 5 student of Centre Point School, Wardhaman Nagar, Nagpur and level 2 winner of the 2021 Oxford Big Read Competition shared his experience and said, “I couldn’t be more grateful to my teachers and parents for introducing me to the Oxford Big Read Competition. Through reading books, I developed an interest in writing and wrote a book on the Bhagwad Gita. This competition has opened up a whole new world of books and possibilities.”
Tanisha Gupta, student of Centre Point School, Amravati Road Bypass, Nagpur and level 3 winner of the 2021 Oxford Big Read Competition shared the benefits of reading and said, “A good book is the best companion one can ask for. Reading helps me to escape the stress of the real world as well as expand my vocabulary and use it correctly in conversations and creative writing. Such competitions are a great way to encourage reading. I am thankful to my school and Oxford Big Read for this opportunity.”
The possibilities are endless when children are encouraged to develop reading habits from a young age. Teachers and parents everywhere are aware of the positive impact that a love for reading can have on a child’s performance. Through Oxford Big Read, OUP aspires to support their efforts, and develop and encourage primary and secondary school students in India to become avid readers.
Oxford Big Read Global competition is open to all students from classes 1-9, studying in schools across India. June 15th 2022, is the last date to submit school entries this year. The national winners will be announced on July 20th 2022 and the global winners on September 15th 2022. National winners are selected from the entries received from government, private and international schools across India. These winners are then entered as semi-finalists in the regional competition across Asia. In 2021, 7 countries participated at the Global level (India, Pakistan, South-east Asia, Hong Kong and Mainland China, Vietnam and Turkey) and 149 students participated from India. The prizes included OUP books, 100 GBP and even an Apple iPad.
Sumanta Datta MD, Oxford University Press India shared his thoughts on the competition and said, “Reading is an essential life skill to thrive in any career. The love for reading when inculcated at a young age, can help shape young minds to achieve their full potential and unlock new opportunities. Oxford Big Read competition is our sincere attempt to support parents and teachers in their efforts to raise young readers. We have always received an overwhelming response from schools across India and hope to increase our reach with every new edition of Oxford Big Read.”
Oxford Big Read Global Contest is a reading competition for primary and secondary school students in India. Students who participate in the competition will be required to read Oxford University Press (OUP) Supplementary Readers and do different age-wise activities based on the levels they belong to.