Academics and parents commended the Reading Festival organized by Chennamangallur Islahiya Association Alumni at Dauha Al-Uloom International School Jeddah and said such events would play a big role in promoting reading among children.

During the competition Fadil Bashir, Rabeeha Abdul Raheem and Abrar Abdullah won top three places in the senior category while Khadeeja Hakeem, Elham Jaafar and Amal Fatima in the junior category.

M.V. Saleem, managing director of Dauha Al-Uloom, opened the event, which was attended by a large number of students representing various schools in the city. Saleem emphasized the significance of reading for children to achieve academic excellence.

In his keynote speech, Dr. Ismail Marutheri of King Abdulaziz University (KAU) explained how parents could help their children develop a habit to read useful books. “People with different mental conditions will get a lot of relief through reading,” he said, adding that reading would take people to a different world.

Professor Raynolds urged parents to select the best books for their children to make them good citizens. Siraj Kollam, Hassan Cherupa and P.K. Abdul Ghafour also spoke at the function, which was presided by Ibrahim Chamnad, president of the alumni.

Speakers paid tributes to Jamal Muhammad, an Islamic scholar and a former principal of Islahiya College, who died recently as a result of internal bleeding.