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Reading is the backbone of the Government’s cultural policy
The President Juan Manuel Santos held a meeting with the Minister of Culture, Mariana Garcés, to discuss the activities of her administration.
The topics that received greater analysis by the head of state were reading, film and sports.
The President expressed his concern about reading, given that the efforts made during recent years to improve reading rates have been in vain. “One of the main challenges we are facing is to increase children’s reading rates. By reading more they will improve their education and will have a better life. We should take advantage of new technologies and be more daring to increase reading rates in the country”, were the President’s words.
Santos proposed to create a partnership with Instituto Caro y Cuervo to promote centres for school teachers interested in improving their reading methodology and in the correct use of the language. “This has consequences in other sectors, like that of call centres”, he highlighted.
The Minister presented briefly the four year plan of her administration that will have reading as its backbone. Special support will be given to public libraries and to the implementation and promotion of information and communication technologies.
Another topic that called the President’s attention was the growth of broadcasting and film industries. He stressed that Colombia has become an important exporter of soap operas and films and that the country is home of great artistic talent.
Santos pointed out that Colombia has an important cultural heritage, evident in the gastronomy, music, literature and other artistic expressions of each region of the country. Therefore, it is necessary to come up with a strategy in order to make good use of the key cultural values of the country.
The head of state expressed his concern about sports: kids are spending too much time with computers and this has a negative impact on the country’s health.
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