By Ahmad Albarjas
With the increase in technological advancements and societal growth, Gen Z is expected to pave the way for the younger generation, Gen Alpha. However, the literacy rate among children in Kuwait tells another story. The fact that 51 percent of Kuwait’s children fall into the categories of "learning poverty” and "not proficient in reading”, as labeled by the Kuwait LPB (Learning Poverty Brief), comes as a surprise to a country with a very high adult literacy rate such as Kuwait.
If this statistic is compared to a fellow Gulf country like Oman, which is almost indifferent in terms of population to Kuwait, a similar 42 percent appears. Not only does this showcase the concerning reading predicament that children in Kuwait or Gulf countries face, but it also opens another common door. Upon opening it, the overreliance on algorithmic technology prevalent in social media can clearly be seen, as well as a lack of hobby exploration and barely any social connection for children who are in a crucial developmental stage of their lives.
One would blame the COVID pandemic; others would blame the child themselves for his or her habitual usage of devices. Albeit, the problem lies in the lack of exploration of the realms of reading and writing. This is connected back to the infamous "iPad kid” phenomenon, which is seen very frequently. The term is primarily used jokingly as a way to label the major issue of Gen Alpha kids being stuck to their devices, but despite the humorous context behind it, it demonstrates the harsh truth behind our future generation.
Children are not galvanized to pursue hobbies like reading or writing due to being blinded by the world of electronics. Of course, it’s always up to one’s preferences for hobby-practicing, but can anyone really make such major decisions about hobbies while never trying them in the first place?
Today, Kuwait faces a struggle of trial, where people must encourage their children to try and reward them for doing so. Communication is also paramount to enforcing the child’s mother tongue in his/her mind, which can indirectly aid in the child’s literary intelligence. This comes with the aim of making sure that children are introduced as soon as possible to hobbies like reading or writing to enhance their knowledge in those areas beyond the teachings of school.
The 51 percent of children in the statistic doesn’t serve as a sign of shame and guilt, whether on children or us as their carers and caregivers, but as a reminder to continue guiding them and pushing these children to indulge their free time in hobbies, whether exploring literacy sources or perhaps practicing an enjoyable hobby of their own, all with the sole purpose of fostering their cognitive and emotional development.
It is imperative for a child with a developing brain to be on the right trajectory when it comes to literacy in order to dodge any obstacles when he/she grows into adolescence. It’s our job as guides for the soon-to-be leaders of society to assist them in adapting to reading and writing from a young age and being exposed to the benefits of that practice from a young age as well. Nevertheless, the words in books might just come across as sequenced and connected groups of letters depicting fantasy, comedy or even non-fiction. But behind those words and spaces lies a lifelong added value that can never go unnoticed.