Known story-teller and reading champion read two stories and a poem to a group of 30 fourth and fifth-grade students at the event. — Photo courtesy of the British Council

HA NOI (VNS) — About 4,000 primary school students in the southern province of Binh Duong will get an opportunity to read books and participate in story-telling competitions this year.

These plans are part of the Kids Read project, launched by the British Council and supported by HSBC as pilot programmes in six primary schools in the province.

Under the project, about 74 of the United Kingdom's best children's book titles will be given to the schools, and 30 primary school teachers of English in the province will be trained to integrate Kids Read activities into their current curriculum.

Over the course of one year, thousands more will benefit from community activities run by HSBC volunteers, such as reading and story-telling sessions and workshops for parents.

The project was inaugurated in the Chanh My Primary School on Tuesday. Alec Williams, a well-known story-teller and reading champion from the United Kingdom, read two stories and a poem to a group of 30 fourth and fifth-grade students at the event.

The Kids Read project is designed to encourage primary school students to read for pleasure, both in the classroom and at home. — VNS