Reading is considered a fundamental act that we practice as human beings, and it was the first word revealed in the Holy Quran. It is not merely the act of connecting letters to produce sounds; rather, it is a process that transforms us from within, making us more complete human beings and nurturing within us the innate qualities of active citizenship and humanity.
The activities of the Comprehensive Cultural Day were launched in the Jordanian capital, Amman, on Saturday, May 9, 2026, under the slogan “Read, Think, Create,” at the Royal Cultural Center, with broad participation from academics, writers, intellectuals, entrepreneurs, and cultural figures, alongside political figures from both the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as cultural institutions from Jordan and abroad.
The event was held under the patronage of Jordanian Minister of Culture Mustafa Al-Rawashdeh and organized in cooperation between the Royal Cultural Center and Taghyeer Association / We Love Reading Program. It featured more than 70 speakers from various cultural, entrepreneurial, and scientific institutions within a program that extended from 11:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., celebrating the National Book and Copyright Day.
The activities were distributed across four main venues, including the conference hall, the main theater, the circular theater, and Fakhr Al-Nisa Hall, in addition to an exhibition area featuring publishing houses, cultural institutions, and community initiatives.
The sessions addressed a variety of topics, including the role of reading in raising children within educational systems, artificial intelligence and education, discussions on literature and politics, archiving displacement, mental health in literature, the ethics of reading and writing, and intellectual debates on deep reading versus rapid digital consumption.
Among the featured panel discussions was a session titled “Education, Jordan, and the Future: The Role of Reading in Raising Children within Educational Systems,” featuring Dr. Rana Dajani, former Minister of Culture and Senator Haifa Al-Najjar, writer Taghreed Al-Najjar, Nizar Al-Hammoud from Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation, and Massarah Touqan. The session discussed the importance of reading in building aware and educated generations, enhancing critical thinking, and connecting education with the future.
During the session, Dr. Dajani stated: “Books are not goals in themselves, but tools that help us create change and build human beings,” stressing the importance of building children’s relationship with reading from an early age. Haifa Al-Najjar emphasized that “reading is not only a school responsibility, but a cultural and societal project,” while Nizar Al-Hammoud reviewed highlights from the national reading study in Jordan and the “Towards a Reading Jordan” strategy. Massarah Touqan also discussed the importance of early reading in children’s linguistic and emotional development during their early years.
The event also featured a session titled “Artificial Intelligence in Education: From Foundations to Legislation,” with the participation of Senator Dr. Mahasen Al-Jaghoub, Dr. Ismail Al-Haniti, President of Al Hussein Technical University, and education technology expert Tina Sweis. The session was moderated by Dr. Rana Dajani.
The discussion addressed the impact of artificial intelligence on learning, reading, and knowledge acquisition among younger generations, as well as the importance of balancing books with modern digital tools. Tina Sweis stated that “the most important skills today are no longer traditional memorization, but critical thinking, problem-solving, and lifelong learning.” Dr. Ismail Al-Haniti discussed redefining the role of educational institutions and teachers in the age of artificial intelligence, while Dr. Mahasen Al-Jaghoub addressed the legislative and regulatory aspects related to the use of AI in education and the protection of students’ educational data and digital rights.
The cultural day also hosted sessions and discussions featuring several writers, thinkers, and public figures, including author and writer Ayman Al-Atoum, Astrolabe founder Moath Al-Faouri, MP and Dr. Dima Tahboub, writers Nahid Al-Shawa and Abeer Al-Taher, and freed Palestinian prisoner Israa Jaabis.
The day also featured a children’s play, sessions on book marketing, critical readings, and the role of libraries in knowledge production, in addition to discussions on scientific research, the educational impact of reading, youth projects in writing and authorship, and knowledge management in the digital age.
The activities also witnessed broad participation from various publishing houses in Jordan, cultural institutions, publishing initiatives, and reading communities, which presented diverse content related to books, reading, publishing, and cultural initiatives, alongside activities introducing educational projects.
The We Love Reading Program organized several read-aloud sessions throughout the day, with broad participation from the program’s ambassadors. The program also participated alongside publishing houses in selling books in the exhibition area and distributing one free book to each visitor.
Dr. Dajani said in her speech: “This day comes from our sense of responsibility toward readers and writers. We wanted to organize an event that includes sessions and activities for all age groups and to work toward creating impact and change, starting with every individual around us.”
The Comprehensive Cultural Day comes as part of broader efforts to strengthen the presence of books in the public sphere and to rethink the role of reading as a tool for building both individuals and society, while connecting knowledge with cultural and social action.
Read what the media wrote about this event:
افتتاح فعاليات “اليوم الثقافي الشامل”
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