Muscat – The Bait Al Zubair Foundation – in collaboration with the Ministry of Education – unveiled the winning entries for the third Bait Al Zubair Competition for School Reading Initiatives at an event in Muscat on Tuesday.

Launched in February, this competition lays thrust on the art of reading as a pivotal tool. Its mission is not only to imbibe love for reading but also to deploy it as a means to identify and address educational, administrative, or societal challenges.

The award ceremony, presided over by H E Dr Abdullah bin Khamis Ambosaidi, Undersecretary for Education, witnessed some notable moments, including a speech from Fatima al Shukri, the competition’s supervisor, representing the Children’s Laboratory of Bait Al Zubair.

Idris al Nabhani, assistant director of the Department of Educational Activities, also took the stage and lauded the combined efforts and stressing the role of such partnerships in aligning with Oman Vision 2040 – a pursuit of a knowledge-driven society.

Awad al Luwaihi, a member of the jury, extended gratitude to all the entrants and acknowledged the marked advancement in the strategies adopted by those behind the initiatives this year.

A visual montage detailing the competition’s journey was another highlight of the ceremony.

Fatima spoke about the departure from past protocols this year.

Unlike before, when regional committees in the governorates initially screened entries, all applications this year were sent directly to Bat Al Zubair. Sequential assessments culminated in a final evaluation, a day ahead of the award ceremony.

From its inception, the competition’s ethos has been to uplift and champion Arabic reading initiatives. It seeks not only to recognise current efforts but also to motivate the inception of impactful initiatives in subsequent years, tapping into the latent potential of students and school staff. By doing so, it reinforces the culture of reading and cements the symbiotic relationship between schools and their local communities.