Within the scientific activities organized by the Research and Studies Unit in the college of Political Science ,the Arabic language studies Committee had organized a seminar about reasons behind" the Low of reading at the present time and civil society in Iraq's novel".
The seminar was presented by (Dr. Hussein Messetatt) the director of the research unit. It was about the illiteracy of reading that afflicting by our
Society today, the fact that technology has attracted all the time and
how to address them and to encourage students to follow them, as well as the importance of civil society organizations in the advancement of reality through real and meaningful narrative.
The seminar included two lectures: the first lecture was about
(The Low of reading today with stopovers to the Book of the History of Reading), which was presented by (Dr. Hutham Bader)
She discussed the divisions of illiteracy between reading and writing literacy and these need to be great interest by the state in return dropouts kids to schools, as well as preventing the small workers deployed in the markets and shops.
The second illiteracy is illiterate of knowledge, which is spread among the general public even among students, whether in preparatory schools or institutes and colleges.
She addressed in her speech that reading is a general culture and books of all its kinds and specializations is considered as one of the most important historical and scientific references with it the biography of ancestors, laws, knowledge and sciences,
In spite of the technology m arching and its clout in our contemporary life and providing the means for reading and knowledge in easier and fastest ways, but still reading certain book retains his stature and his magic among all other means of reading.
She wondered by saying,
Aren't we the people whom they talked about us that we are "the intellectuals of the Arab world", that Cairo writes, Beirut prints and Iraq reads.
Are not we the first nation known writing and drawing and put laws thousands of years ago!
The second lecture dealt with (civil society in Iraq novel) which was presented by Dr.Eshraq Kamel Kayeed
She talked about the concept of civil society and its history, features and objectives.
She pointed that the independence from government institutions is that distinguish it from other civil society which make it a diverse in its components and regulations whether on the level of Unions,
Professional associations and organizations that cares about Childhood, women and youth, As well as the mission and unified goals that has to be invested in the homeland and the citizen service and rooting civil awareness and interest in public affairs, as well as participate and contribute in all areas and monitor the performance of the official organs and the constructive opposition.
The seminar shows the importance of reading which comes as part of the general culture methodology and acquisition awareness to the citizen for the advancement of reality through his interest by what is provided by the civil society organizations as great services that serving the community and the Iraqi individual in all fields ,such as Education, and culture in special .
The seminar came out with several recommendations, including:-
- Revival of public and private libraries as well as university libraries and provide them with modern technology by having web- site for each library recorded all the names of the books that are available to facilitate the search for sources by the student, as well as the activation the subject of reading a book and resolved it to approach, as most of disciplines being taught in Arabic language.
- Encourage the cultural institutions to support reading and this comes through printed books for writers and researchers in the form of abbreviations and distributed free of charge or at subsidized prices.
- Stimulate creators and critics to heed to employing the concepts of civil society and fighting corruption within the creative work.
We already know that literature is a mirror that reflects the reality; so it should be an important source of cultural awareness,
- Holding cultural seminars and dialogues to encourage the civil society organizations to find a field of action on the ground and take the advantage of modern technology to spread the community awareness and this can be done through the use of media and audio-visual, as well as the social media for its importance in promoting and strengthening the civic awareness in the community.
The scientific overlaps enriched the seminar through the thoughts and deliberations that are praised by the audience, suggesting that this issue should be a comprehensive seminar in the future because it affects the issue of being a cultural and intellectual awareness.
Translated by
Dr.Edhah.N.