in an attempt to encourage reading habits among school children the central board of secondary education cbse has introduced english novels in the course curriculum of students from classes ix to xii in all its affiliated schools from the academic session 201213 according to vineet joshi chairman cbse the board constantly encourages schools to provide multifold learning experiences to young children good reading habits help children to acquire the power of imagination expression and appreciation of literature though all the skills of gaining proficiency in a language are equally important nevertheless reading habit helps tremendously in improving comprehension accuracy fluency and in increasing vocabulary reading provokes questioning helps in generating ideas and inspires students to think it also supports the syllabus in diverse ways by enhancing language competence across the curriculum strengthening of continuous and comprehensive evaluation cce has added further impetus in fostering interest in children to read books as part of the formative assessment in cce schools are being advised to take up reading projects schools have also been encouraged to use multiple modes of assessment such as conducting reviews script reading etc the board prescribes a multicultural and technology enabled pedagogical approach in all the languages offered by it in this process incorporating all the four skills reading writing listening and speaking in the curriculum prescribed by the board has placed an equitable emphasis on essential skills of english language cbse recommends that reading skill should be fostered in children to make them better orators autonomous learners as well as critical and creative thinkers adds joshi every school has finalised one classic for students to read students will be evaluated continuously under cce for the reading skills at the end of the session their marks on reading skills will be totalled in their final marks informs prabha sharma assistant to english consultant cbsecourtesy myeducationtimescom