VietNamNet Bridge – People in the Mekong Delta are not avid readers, surveys on reading habits have found.

Young people read at An Giang General Library in the city of Long Xuyen in the southern province of An Giang. Many students aren’t interested in literature, a new survey found.

Most scored a zero. Even when some did name authors, they were not sure if the writers were from the north or south.

Another poll conducted by Can Tho University came up with a list of the 17 most popular media - with television and radio topping, newspapers in sixth place, and the internet in 13th. Libraries did not even make the list.

Le Dinh Bich, a lecturer in literature at the same university, says more than 80 per cent of students stick to cliched subject matters from textbooks when asked to comment on a favourite literary work.

He says it is an indication of how poorly read they are.

“Not many of them know beyond what learn in school despite the fact they are all ’elite’ students who scored highly on entrance exams,” he says.

Tight schedules

A leader from a delta province said, “This is partly attributable to the tight schedule which leaves no time for serious reading.”

According to experts, most primary school teachers in the delta fail to inspire children, thus causing a reluctance, if not resistance, among them to read.

“Most youngsters prefer picture books and online games,” Ngoc Tuyet concludes from her over 30 years of experience in teaching literature in Can Tho.

Poor education obviously has a role to play. The Mekong Delta is high both in poverty and illiteracy rates. Almost 40 per cent of its population is not capable of reading or writing, with only an equal number finishing primary school, according to 2005 statistics.

“It is not until there is a learning society that reading becomes popular,” comments Le Chi, a local member of the Association of Writers.

(Source: Viet Nam News)