440 Students Advance to Second Round of Tenth Arab Reading Challenge Season

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education – General Directorate of Education, Cultural Affairs and Fine Arts Department, has completed the second round of the tenth season of the Arab Reading Challenge initiative. This initiative is organized by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, aiming to instill a culture of reading among younger generations and prepare a reading generation that adopts knowledge as a lifestyle and recognizes reading as the true gateway to creativity and excellence.

According to a statement, the tenth season of the initiative saw extensive participation from various public and private schools across Lebanon, with over 143,000 students involved. Out of these, 440 students advanced to the second round after successfully passing the initial school-level qualifiers.

The second round of competitions was held between June 17 and June 25, 2026, following precise judging mechanisms and standardized criteria approved by the organizing body. These measures ensured the highest levels of transparency, objectivity, and equal opportunity for all participants.

The qualifying students underwent individual interviews before specialized judging panels composed of experienced evaluators in reading and cultural competitions. Their performances were assessed using a comprehensive criteria matrix that considered comprehension and understanding levels, analytical ability, opinion formation, and confident, correct language expression.

Results from this round revealed advanced proficiency among participants, highlighting their capability to grasp book contents, connect ideas, and express them in a balanced critical manner. This reflects the profound positive impact of reading on personality development and awareness enhancement.

The wide participation confirms the growing status of the Arab Reading Challenge initiative within Lebanese schools as a pioneering educational and cultural project that contributes to discovering young talents, promoting the Arabic language, and establishing reading as a consistent daily habit.

The competition continues with 72 students advancing to the third round at the national level in Lebanon. This selection is based on the total scores achieved in the current stage. The third round will be conducted by an international judging committee appointed by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives. From this stage, ten qualifiers will be chosen to represent Lebanon in the final round hosted by Dubai, alongside top qualifiers from various Arab countries.

The Cultural Affairs and Fine Arts Department extended sincere thanks and appreciation to the administrations of public and private schools and secondary schools, as well as coordinators, supervisors, and teachers for their significant efforts in supporting students, motivating them to read, and following up with them throughout the competition stages, contributing to these honorable results.

Gratitude was also expressed to the judging committees across different provinces for their professional commitment, precision in applying criteria, and dedication to ensuring fairness and objectivity in evaluation, which helped successfully complete this phase.

The department commended the participating students for their seriousness, perseverance, and passion for knowledge, wishing them continued success in the upcoming stages of this leading cultural competition.

The Arab Reading Challenge’s motto remains consistent in its tenth season as in every season:

“Reader of today... Leader of tomorrow.”