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Reading difficulties in primary school students: Reading owls are looking for volunteers. Reader!
In Moosach, the “LeseEulen” association is committed to promoting reading among primary school students, in view of the alarming IGLU study results.
Reading difficulties in primary school students: Reading owls are looking for volunteers. Reader!
Concerns about the reading skills of German primary school students are greater than ever. According to the tz The results of the International Primary School Reading Survey (Igloo 2021) have shown that one in four children in the fourth grade are diagnosed with serious reading difficulties. This means that many students cannot read at the minimum level required for future academic success. An alarming result that is causing concern among education experts and parents alike.
Anita Bock, the former director of the primary school at Schererplatz, founded the “LeseEulen” association under the motto “Reading is the gateway to the world”. The aim of the association is not only to promote reading, but also to improve children's understanding of texts. The association's first projects are starting in several schools, including the Hermine von Parish primary school and the Freiham primary school. The association is actively recruiting volunteer readers, especially for the schools in Lochham and Moosach, as support is urgently needed.
The challenges of reading skills
Recent studies show a worrying trend. Recently reported the daily news that not only Germany, but also many other EU countries have similar difficulties in the area of reading skills. The Igloo study documented that the reading skills of German fourth graders have been steadily declining since 2001. Compared to 2001, when only one in six children had problems reading, 25 percent of students now struggle with significant difficulties. The average score of 524 is below the EU and OECD average of 527 points.
At least 63 percent of children read regularly outside of school, which gives hope, but educational equality could decrease. The differences between good and weak readers have hardly changed over the last two decades. Family background remains a decisive factor for educational success. The trend shows that social disparities also have an influence here.
Why reading is important
A passionate call to promote reading also comes from the President of the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs, Katharina Günther-Wünsch. She emphasizes that promoting reading is not only crucial for educational success, but also for social participation. Federal Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger describes the results of the Igloo study as alarming and calls for a comprehensive turnaround in educational policy.
Given the challenges and numbers, it is important to support initiatives like the ReadOwls to support. These not only focus on promoting reading, but are also intended to contribute to increasing reading skills in Munich in the long term. Anyone interested can contact the email address info@leseeulen.de as a reader or for organizational work.
It is in our hands to ignite the love of reading and ensure every child has the chance to discover the world of stories. The LeseEulen offer a valuable contribution to fulfilling this mission.