The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports on March 11 celebrated National Reading Day and took the opportunity to recall the heroic legacy of highly revered Venerable Chuon Nath for his efforts to protect the Kingdom’s precious cultural heritage and Khmer writing.

National Reading Day is an annual event which encourages reading and promotes the growth of writing and research abilities, by promoting Khmer culture and civilisation.

Education minister Hang Chuon Naron said on March 11 that this year’s theme is “Reading helps promote quality of life in the digital age”. The theme was chosen to reflect the role of reading in all aspects of life, even as the world moves towards becoming a digital society.

The minister also launched the "Early Grade Reading Materials Package" which will be included in the teacher training curriculum at primary school level. He instructed that all education departments, offices and primary schools and teachers participate in the implementation of this package.

The package will require the participation of students’ parents to ensure it is a success.

On National Reading Day, the ministry also organises reading contests, poetry reading and national and sub-national writing contests, among other events.

Bunna Sun, deputy director of the ministry's Curriculum Development Department, said National Reading Day is observed in-person when possible, but owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, some events were scheduled to be held online.