Children in France are not reading enough, stakeholders concluded during the recent national conference on reading for young people (États généraux de la lecture pour la jeunesse).
The education and culture ministers, Édouard Geffray and Rachida Dati, respectively, have called for 'mobilisation' to get kids reading.
"The decline in reading is not inevitable (...), but it is urgent to act," Geffray told the French press, mentioning the growing time children are spending on screens in lieu of reading.
According to a recent study by France's national book centre, which gathered data from 36,000 participants across France, children aged seven to 19 spend an average of 19 minutes reading daily, compared to over three hours spent on screens (10 times more).
Meanwhile, 38 percent of adolescents aged 16-19 reported not reading at all during leisure time.
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The survey still showed a positive perception of reading until the beginning of collège (middle school, lower secondary), when reading declines sharply. The gender gap for reading widens during adolescence, with boys starting to significantly decrease their time spent reading in 4ème (at age 13-14).
Geffray emphasised the need to focus on collège, saying "that's where young people lose interest in reading" and young boys in particular, who see reading as an increasingly feminine pursuit.
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French government proposals to encourage reading
France's regional directorate of cultural affairs (Directions régionales des affaires culturelles, DRAC) supports 300 associations that specifically promote reading.
Meanwhile, in 2022, local authorities across the country allocated €1.6 billion to the construction, expansion, and operation of the 16,000 libraries and media centres.
However, experts want to see more investment.
The national reading conference ended on Monday, with organisers (experts, researchers and authors) calling for a 10-year plan based on 15 proposals intended to push kids to read more.
Overall, the first theme focused on helping children rediscover the joy of reading, with an emphasis on reading for leisure, as well as for learning. Suggestions focused on the importance of early literacy, a greater diversity in curriculum offerings, and local initiatives to 'modernise' the image of books.
The second theme underscored the need to make reading part of daily life from birth to the age of 18, with proposals to raise awareness amongst families and teachers about the importance of daily reading rituals (e.g., bedtime reading).
And the third theme focused on the need to build continuity amongst all people who work with youth, with greater 'reading training' for teachers as well as other professionals who work with kids.
The full details of the report will be published in the coming days here.
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