Indore (Madhya Pradesh): In the cacophony of voices that make up a society, newspapers are the quiet architects—building informed citizens, fostering debate, and empowering the electorate.
As the digital era dominates, we tend to forget that to learn better, to read and grow our intelligence, newspapers are still essential.
This is reinforced by several national and international studies that show Newspaper in Education (NIE) improves academic performance and overall development.
In a recent study, 92% of middle school and 66% of high school students indicated that the NIE programme has helped them to improve their academic performance.
The study was conducted covering 2,000 schools in various cities by Indian researchers Kavita Nagasampige and Manojkumar Nagasampige. In discussions with educationists in Indore, we take a step forward to highlight ways to do the same and boost students’ performance and quality of education in the city.
Newspaper nurture empathy & holistic growth
A 2020 study by the Media Foundation of India found that when students read about social issues, current affairs, and community activities through newspapers, it helped them develop empathy and a deeper understanding of diverse perspectives. With pic – UK jha “Newspapers are rich in content and cover a variety of subjects—from current affairs to science, technology, and culture. This makes students aware of the world around them and fosters holistic education,” he said.
UK Jha
CBSE Coordinator
Fuelling critical thinking & active learning
By reading real-world stories, students develop the ability to assess, analyse, and form their own opinions. With pic – Manoj Bajpai “Newspapers encourage students to engage with content actively rather than passively receiving information, which leads to better cognitive development and helps in preparing students for future challenges.”
Manoj Bajpai
CBSE resource person
Newspapers improve vocabulary & comprehension
Studies have pointed to improvements in vocabulary, with 94% of middle school students and 44% of high school students reporting a noticeable increase in their language proficiency due to regular exposure to newspapers. With pic – Fr. Pious Cyriac “When students read diverse content—be it an editorial, a feature article, or a report—they encounter new words and sentence structures, which enhances their vocabulary and comprehension.”
Fr. Pious Cyriac,
SVD School principal
Civic sense: Connecting students to their community
Newspapers also help students stay connected with their local community, which gives them a sense of responsibility toward their surroundings and a broader perspective on civic life. With pic – Geeta Taneja “When students read about issues affecting their city or community, it fosters a sense of civic engagement and empathy. It encourages them to think about solutions and become proactive members of society,” she said.
Geeta Taneja
School principal
