More than 10,000 books specifically appealing to young children will be distributed to primary schools so each classroom would have at least six for every student.

A literacy programme themed Aqra Kemm Tiflaħ (read as much as you can) was launched yesterday when a Christmas tree decorated with books was lit up at the National Curriculum Centre, in Ħamrun.

The programme is meant to make reading enjoyable to children in the early primary school years. Run by the National Literacy Agency, it will run in 16 primary schools.

Each class in years one, two and three will be given at least 100 books for their library.

The initial phase covers 1,700 children in 100 classrooms, each having a minimum of six books per student. The four-year project, costing €500,000 in books, will cover all 68 State primary schools.

The books are both fiction and non-fiction, in Maltese and English and target different reading ages.

Teachers will be given professional training that will help them establish their students’ reading levels.

“Classroom libraries play an important role in determining reading success.

“In classrooms with well-equipped libraries, children interact more with books, demonstrate more positive attitudes towards reading, spend more time reading and exhibit higher levels of reading achievement,” Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said at the launch.

“A classroom library provides students with immediate, daily access to the books they need to become the best readers they can be.”

The project forms part of the National Literacy Strategy, which includes the Read with Me programme for children up to three years old and their guardians, the Reading Ambassadors.

The programme seeks to provide reading role models for children, and the Reading Champions programme rewards children who promote reading among peers.